toolbox talk carbon monoxide overview - safety …€¦ · · 2017-01-12toolbox talk carbon...

Toolbox Talk

Carbon Monoxide

Overview

Carbon monoxide is a clear, odorless gas which is created by inefficient combustion emissions.

The most common sources in industry are gasoline or diesel powered pressure washers, air

compressors, forklifts or other petroleum fired machinery.

The chemical makeup of CO is a carbon molecule linked to an oxygen molecule. Carbon

monoxide kills by binding up the hemoglobin in the blood. Since CO has an affinity for

hemoglobin several hundreds of times greater than the oxygen that is ever present, that being

about 200,000 parts per million in normal air. Therefore it takes only a small amount of CO to

bind up a large amount of hemoglobin. This decreases the amount of oxygen delivered to the

tissues and without oxygen, you will slowly suffocate to death.

What does this mean for workers? Carbon Monoxide will affect workers as follows:

Slight headache and dizziness

Nausea

Drowsiness and an euphoric feeling

Unconsciousness

Death

Signs and Symptoms of Exposure

Acute exposure: Signs and symptoms may include headache, flushing, nausea, vertigo,

weakness, irritability, unconsciousness, and in persons with pre-existing heart disease and

atherosclerosis, chest pain and leg pain.

Chronic exposure: Repeated bouts of carbon monoxide poisoning may cause persistent signs

and symptoms, such as anorexia, headache, lassitude, dizziness, and ataxia.

Toolbox Talk Attendance Record

Carbon Monoxide

Date: ___________________________ Presenter: _____________________________

Print Name Sign Name Job Title

Toolbox Talk

Preventing Caught or Crushed Injuries

Overview

Each year, workers suffer approximately 125,000 caught or crushed by injuries that occur when

body parts get caught between two objects or entangled with machinery. These hazards are also

referred to as “pinch points or nip points.” The physical forces applied to a body part caught in a

pinch point can vary and cause injuries ranging from bruises, cuts, and scalping to mangled and

amputated body parts, and even death.

Prevention

To avoid these types of injuries dress appropriately for work with pants and sleeves that are not

too long or too loose. Shirts should be fitted or tucked in. Avoid wearing loose and dangling

jewelry. Tie back long hair and tuck braids and ponytails behind you or into your clothing. Wear

the appropriate, well-fitting gloves for your job.

Look for possible pinch points before you start a task. Take the time to plan out your actions and

decide on the necessary steps to work safely. Give your work your full attention. Don’t joke

around, daydream, or try to multi-task on the job – most accidents occur when workers are

distracted. Read and follow warning signs posted on equipment.

Machinery can pose a hazard with moving parts, conveyors, rollers and rotating shafts. NEVER

reach into a moving machine. Properly maintain and always use the machine and tool guards

provided with your equipment; they act as barriers between the moving parts and your body.

Don’t reach around, under or through a guard and always report missing or broken barriers to

your supervisor. Turn equipment off and use lockout/tagout procedures before adjusting, clearing

a jam, repairing, or servicing a machine.

Caught/crush hazards are not limited to machinery. Vehicles, powered doors, and forklifts can

pose a crush hazard unless they have been blocked or tagged out. Never place your body under

or between powered equipment unless it is de-energized. Doors, file drawers, and heavy crates

can pinch fingers and toes. Take care where you place your fingers. Test the weight before

lifting, carrying, and placing boxes; an awkward or heavy load can slip and pinch your hands or

feet. Get help or use tools to move large and/or heavy items.


Preventing Caught for Crushed Injuries

Date: ___________________________ Presenter: _____________________________


Toolbox Talk

Chemical Safety

Overview

Chemicals come in various forms and can affect those exposed in different ways. A chemical can

take the form of a mist, vapor, liquid, dust, fume or gas. The type of chemical, the way it is used,

and the form that it takes determine its effect and what should be done to avoid harmful

exposure.

Precautions

Some basic safety precautions should be understood and followed including:

Know what to do in an emergency. If there is a leak or spill, keep away from the area,

unless you know what the chemical is and how to safely clean it up. Know where

emergency protective equipment and supplies kept and how to use them.

Use appropriate protective clothing and equipment (glasses, aprons, boots, gloves, etc.) as

required or as necessary.

If the clothing becomes contaminated by the chemical, shower or wash the skin areas

exposed. Change and decontaminate clothing (or dispose of clothing if it is designed to

single use).

Do not take contaminated clothing home to be laundered because by doing so, it could

expose family members to the contaminant.

When working with chemicals, always wash hands thoroughly before eating. If

necessary, shower and change clothes before going home.

Never take food into the work area where chemicals are being used or stored.

If work will be done in an area where there is a possibility of exposure to toxic

substances, use a buddy system or establish an emergency communication system. A

worker can be dangerously exposed or overcome by a chemical and need immediate

assistance.

Keep the workplace clean to reduce the risk of contamination. Where possible, wipe up

and absorb the contaminant, using proper protective equipment as required. Clean up

spills immediately and dispose of contaminated material properly. With some chemicals a

vacuum is recommended for clean up rather than a broom or compressed air. The idea is

to collect and confine the contaminant, not just spread it around.

You should know the company's system for identifying hazardous chemicals. You must know

and understand the specific health and safety hazards of the chemicals with which they work and

follow the recommended safety precautions. All chemicals must be stored, labeled and disposed

of in accordance with the hazard communication program


Chemical Safety

Date: ___________________________ Presenter: _____________________________


Toolbox Talk

Cold Stress

Overview

Working under cold conditions can lead to various injuries, which are collectively known as cold

stress. Construction workers may experience cold stress under any of the following

circumstances:

Outdoors on a cold day.

In a refrigerated room.

In an unheated building.

In cold water, rain, or snow.

While handling cold objects or

materials.

Hazards

The hazardous effects of cold on the body may include dehydration, numbness, shivering,

frostbite, trench foot, and hypothermia. Hazards associated with cold stress are categorized into

systemic and local effects. Local effects impact the part of the body where the exposure to cold is

the greatest. Systemic effects impact more than just the local area and can affect the whole body.

Numbness, frostbite, and trench foot are all local effects. Trench foot is the result of the skin’s

having been exposed too long to cold and dampness. Trench foot can result in swelling, tingling,

itching, loss of skin, or skin ulcers. Hypothermia is the most serious effect of cold stress. Once

the body loses the ability to maintain its normal temperature, the body temperature lowers, and

other symptoms such as violent shivering, slow or slurred speech, confusion, hallucinations, a

weak and irregular pulse, or unconsciousness occurs. Certain people are more susceptible than

others to cold stress. People who are not physically fit, have a chronic illness, drink alcohol or

take drugs, are wet or damp from work or weather, are fatigued, are exposed to vibration from

tools, don’t wear the right clothing, or are not used to working in cold have a higher risk from

cold stress.

Symptoms

How can you recognize cold stress? Shivering is the body’s response to cold stress and serves as

a protection mechanism by increasing the rate of metabolism. Be on guard for cold stress if

workers are shivering because it’s a good sign of cold stress and possible hypothermia.

Subjective responses of workers provide a good tool for recognizing cold stress in the workplace.

Worker behaviors that may indicate cold stress exposures include seeking warm locations,

adding layers of clothing, or increasing the work rate.

If there is a noticeable drop in manual dexterity for workers, local cold stress may be occurring.

Manual dexterity decreases with cold, which could result in safety hazards to the worker and

coworkers.

Prevention

Employees can do their part to prevent cold stress. Proper insulation and good ventilation is

critical for clothing worn during cold stress exposures. Better insulation is achieved by layering

clothes rather than by wearing just one warm garment. Layering allows a person to add or

remove layers to adjust for different insulation needs during the work period.

Note that the insulation quality of clothing may be greatly decreased by moisture. Thus, water

vapor permeability is also important. A waterproof shell may not allow sweat to escape. A water

repellent shell may keep a worker warmer. Seek warm locations during breaks and replace lost

fluids with warm, sweet, non-caffeine-containing drinks to avoid dehydration. By taking the

necessary precautions, employers and workers together can minimize the potential for cold

stress.


Cold Stress

Date: ___________________________ Presenter: _____________________________


Toolbox Talk

Working in Confined Spaces

A "confined space" may be generally defined as any area which has limited means of egress and is subject

to oxygen deficient atmosphere or to the accumulation of toxic or flammable gases or vapors. Examples

of these are:

Tanks

Vats

Boilers

Bins

Hoppers

Process Vessels

Sewers

Pits

Deep Trenches

Vaults

Silos

Working in any confined space is a potential killer. The hazards are lack of oxygen and a variety of

gases/vapors which may replace the oxygen and/or accumulate to toxic or explosive levels.

A normal atmosphere contains approximately 20% oxygen. Any atmosphere containing less than 19.5 %

oxygen is considered to be oxygen deficient. Air containing 16 % or less oxygen is lethal. An oxygen

deficient atmosphere may be produced by consumption of oxygen without replacement or displacement

of oxygen by another gas.

The following safety precautions should be taken to avoid death or serious injury when working in

confined spaces:

a) Don't enter any confined space without knowing what and what was in it and what precautions to

take

b) If possible, purge the involved space with steam, water, compressed or fresh air using exhaust and

blowing devices. Retest the atmosphere after purging. If purging is impossible or impractical:

1. Inform employees of the hazards, what they can expect and what they must do.

2. Provide sufficient general ventilation to guarantee fresh air,

3. Provide an approved air-supplied respirator and safety harness with a life line if there is a

possibility of the atmosphere becoming hazardous.

4. Don't contaminate your own air. Avoid use of toxic solvents, leaky acetylene hoses, carbon

tetrachloride and other similar lethal materials.

c) Have competent people test the atmosphere with gas detection equipment to determine if there are

any toxic gases and if there is sufficient oxygen to support life.

d) Close and lock-out any supply lines, chutes, pipes, etc., to confined space in which work is being

done. Continue to monitor the atmosphere in a confined space even if it was "safe" when work

began.

e) Remove any remaining sludge or other deposits. This must be done carefully since some caustic

cleaning solvents can react violently with some residues.

f) Where an explosive or flammable atmosphere is present, avoid all possible sources of ignition

and use extreme care in purging the contaminated space.

Anyone entering a hazardous atmosphere should be equipped with an air-supplied respirator or self-

contained breathing equipment, a safety harness and a life line. He/she should be backed up by a similarly

equipped worker to assist in the event of any emergency. A third worker within sight and hearing of this

work should be informed that workers are going into the confined space.

If an emergency situation arises in a confuted space, the "stand-by" man, before entering the area, should:

Sound an alarm or summon help by voice communication.

Put on and property adjust the life line and respiratory protective equipment

Enter confined space only after help has arrived.

Another condition frequently encountered in confined spaces is high temperature. Heat stroke, which can

be fatal, or more commonly, heat cramps or heat exhaustion causing only temporary discomfort can result

from physical exertion in a hot atmosphere. Methods used to alleviate this condition would include:

a) Adequate natural or forced ventilation.

b) Cooling of air by portable air conditioning units.

c) Providing intermittent rest periods in cooler atmosphere outside the confined space,

d) Use of salt tablets and ample drinking water to replace liquids and salts lost. (CAUTION: Persons

with heart problems or those on a "Low Sodium" diet or whose intake of salt must be restricted --

consult a physician on how to care for persons with these conditions.)

e) Get medical help.


Working in Confined Spaces

Date: ___________________________ Presenter: _____________________________


Toolbox Talk

Punctures and Cuts

Overview

Punctures and cuts are common on-the-job injuries. Punctures occur when objects such as

splinters, nails, glass, and sharp tools such as scissors and knives pierce the skin and cause a

small hole. Cuts occur when sharp objects, including knives, scissors, sharp metal edges, and

glass slice through the skin superficially or into the deeper layers of fat, tendons, muscles, and

even bone.

Prevention

The best way to deal with cuts and punctures is to avoid getting them in the first place. Wear

appropriate clothing on the job such as sturdy shoes or work boots, long sleeve shirts, and long

pants. Consider sturdy coveralls to protect your skin from sharp and flying objects. Wear

personal protective equipment (PPE) appropriate to your job tasks such as gloves, safety glasses,

work boots, gauntlets, and chaps.

Follow safe work practices and know how to use your tools properly. Inspect, maintain, and

replace your tools when necessary. Always use the correct tool for the job. Ensure that blades on

cutting tools are sharpened; dull cutting surfaces can cause accidents. When working with sharp

tools, always know where both of your hands are at all times. Practice good housekeeping with

your sharp and cutting tools by sheathing and storing them properly. Place tools far back on

workbenches and shelves, not against the edge where someone walking by might get stuck.

If you have to pick up broken glass or metal shards, use a broom and a dustpan or pieces of

cardboard. Never pick up broken glass with your bare hands. Dispose of sharp objects properly

in rigid sided containers that will not get punctured and spill. Label these containers with the

word “Sharp” to warn coworkers of the hazard. Never reach into a garbage can with your hands

or try to “tamp” it down with your hands or booted feet in case someone has improperly disposed

of a sharp object or even a syringe. To properly dispose of syringes, pick them up with tongs and

place them into hard plastic medical waste containers.

Exposure

If you receive a puncture or cut on the job, notify your supervisor immediately. If you can, gently

wash the area with soap and water. To stop bleeding, apply gentle pressure to the wound with

clean gauze, cotton, or other absorbent material. When bleeding has stopped, apply an

antibacterial ointment and a clean dressing to the wound. If you cannot stop the bleeding, if the

wound is very large, or if you are impaled with an object, seek medical attention. Watch your

wounds for signs of infection including fever, severe pain, redness beyond the wound edge,

swelling, warmth, or pus drainage. Get medical attention immediately if you suspect infection.

If your wound was caused by stepping on a nail or other sharp object in contact with the soil, you

may be exposed to the bacteria that cause tetanus. Consider getting regular boosters for tetanus

every five to ten years. If your wound was caused by a needlestick, seek medical testing and

treatment due to a potential exposure to bloodborne pathogens. Consider a Hepatitis B

vaccination if you are exposed to potential needlesticks.

Any way you cut it, puncture and cut wounds expose you to pain and potential infection, so

avoid them through good work practices!


Punctures and Cuts

Date: ___________________________ Presenter: _____________________________


Toolbox Talk

Dermatitis

Overview

Dermatitis is an inflammation of the skin from exposure to an irritant. Although one exposure to

a substance may be enough to cause a skin reaction, workers can become sensitized through

prolonged and repeated exposures to a substance. The delay can be as short as a day, but can be

as long as several months.

Causes

Generally, causes of dermatitis are chemical, mechanical, physical, or biological.

Chemicals can produce reactions ranging from chemical burns to mild skin irritation

(concrete, caustics, acids, etc.).

Mechanical causes of dermatitis include friction, pressure, and trauma resulting in

abrasions, wounds, bruises, or foreign bodies (like glass fiber) getting into the skin.

Physical agents that lead to dermatitis are excessive heat, cold, sunlight, ultraviolet light,

X-rays or other ionizing radiation.

Biological agents such as bacteria, viruses, fungi, poisonous plants, and insects can cause

or complicate dermatitis.

Prevention

Dermatitis is easier to prevent than to cure. What can you do? If possible, eliminate skin contact

with irritating chemicals and substances or substitute less toxic and irritating ones. Use protective

clothing and equipment including aprons, eye and face shields, finger cots, gloves, and chemical-

resistant clothing, provided they are kept clean and in good repair. Make sure irritating materials

are removed from all work clothing so they cannot be transported home.

Personal cleanliness is one of the best preventive measures against skin irritation and dermatitis.

Workers should wash their hands often with a mild, non-abrasive soap solution, and they should

wash any skin area right away if it’s been exposed to an irritating substance. Protective creams

and buffered solutions, when used properly, provide limited protection.


Dermatitis

Date: ___________________________ Presenter: _____________________________


Toolbox Talk

Aggressive Driving

Overview of Topic

Every year there are hundreds of thousands of collisions resulting in many injuries and thousands

of fatalities. Unsafe speed, improper turning, failure to yield the right of way, and obey traffic

signals were the most frequent causes, which led the Department of Transportation (DOT) to

estimate that two-thirds of traffic fatalities may be caused by aggressive driving.

Triggers

Aggressive driving can be caused by longer commutes, traffic congestion, and other drivers’

behaviors. It can also be caused by your own mood, reactions, and ability to deal with stress on

and off the road. Aggressive driving is triggered by anger – yours or another driver’s. Aggressive

drivers are more likely to speed, make unsafe lane changes, ignore the right of way, and violate

traffic signals. Aggressive driving behavior includes tailgating, unsafe passing, honking your

horn, making rude gestures, or swearing at other drivers.

Prevention

Help prevent aggressive driving by first adjusting your attitude. Forget the idea of “winning” on

the road. Driving is not a race; it should not be a contest to see who finishes first. Leave plenty of

time for a trip so that if traffic or another delay occurs, you can keep your cool. Think of the

highway as a conveyor belt – everyone will get to their destination eventually, so there is no need

to speed or drive erratically to save a few minutes.

Put yourself in the other driver’s shoes. Have you ever made a mistake on the road, been lost, or

unsure of your turn-off point? Instead of being angry at another driver making the same

mistakes, give them the benefit of the doubt. When you make mistakes, acknowledge them and

give the drivers around you a friendly nod or wave. Polite behavior makes driving safer.

Regardless of where you drive, there will always be bad actors that want to break the rules.

Ignore rude and bad drivers on the road; it is not your job to enforce the rules of the road. Do not

try to teach other drivers “a lesson.”

If you encounter an angry or aggressive driver on the road, don’t engage them. Avoid eye contact

and do not make (or return) rude gestures or comments. Give an angry driver a lot of room by

putting distance between you. Slow down or exit the roadway if necessary, but do not pull off to

the side of the road or try to “reason” with an angry driver. Get help by using your cell phone or

driving to a public area such as a police station or shopping center.


Aggressive Driving

Date: ___________________________ Presenter: _____________________________


Toolbox Talk

Safe Driving Techniques

Overview

Those who drive for a living would be the first to agree it can be mighty dangerous out there on

the road. Although the common factors of inexperience, recklessness, and aggressive driving

contribute to many vehicle accidents, it doesn’t explain why so many professional drivers get

into accidents. A driver may be trained, experienced, and competent behind the wheel, but the

very flood of vehicles competing for space on the roads today presents added danger to all

drivers. Even the very best drivers must learn to operate their vehicles with in a safe manner.

Drivers should take extra care of their vehicles’ maintenance by keeping them in good operating

condition. Before getting behind the wheel, do a simple walk around the vehicle to insure that

tires are properly inflated and have good tread, check that lights are clear and working, and see

that windshields are clean and wipers blades are sharp.

Once inside the vehicle, drivers should take the extra time to check the gas gage, adjust the

mirrors, seat, and seatbelt to a comfortable position and, if it’s an unfamiliar vehicle, locate the

lights, brakes, and wipers. Horns, flasher lights, and other warning devices are not just

accessories but vital parts of the safety built into any vehicle, so make sure they operate properly.

On the roadways, be extra careful by driving defensively. Following the rules of the road can

help you concentrate on what you should be doing…driving. Stay out of the other vehicle’s blind

spot and avoid tailgating. Instead, keep a safe distance from other drivers by maintaining a safety

cushion of driving space between your vehicle and those around you. As an extra precaution,

know the condition of the weather and road and drive only as fast as those conditions allow.

Be cautious by staying alert and expecting the unexpected. Watch out for and anticipate other

drivers, pedestrians or children on or near the road. Safe drivers scan constantly for hazards,

predicting how they may be affected by a hazard and pre-determining how to avoid or reduce

them.

The ever-changing variable of the road and other vehicles can make drivers instantly vulnerable

to accidents. If drivers don’t practice these safe practices on the road, they might personally

discover why vehicle deaths and serious injuries now total more than all the wartime wounded

and fatalities since 1776.


Safe Driving Techniques

Date: ___________________________ Presenter: _____________________________


Toolbox Talk

Drywalling Safety

Overview

Lifting and maneuvering tools and heavy, awkward sheets of drywall pose an ergonomic risk for

drywallers. Maintaining good physical condition and using proper lifting techniques can reduce

the chance of injuries and strains. Teamwork makes it easier to lift, position, and control

sheetrock. Seam taping and sanding tools with spring-assisted or powered systems makes

overhead finishing work easier by reducing the force that workers must apply. Completing work

one area at the time (hanging, taping finishing) allows workers to rotate tasks and give muscles a

break.

Hazards

Drywallers need to use extra caution to prevent falls when working at heights (installing tall

walls and ceilings). Workers can use ladders if the work can be done safely from them, but they

should follow ladder safety rules. Lean-to or jack scaffolds, shore scaffolds, nailed brackets,

loose tile, loose brick, loose blocks, and other unstable objects cannot be used as working

platforms or for their supports. Stilts should only be used as a last resort. Sturdy scaffolds or

steps that are at least 20 inches wide provide safe, stable working platforms when installed and

used correctly.

Dust is another hazard for drywallers at the beginning and end of every job. When sheetrock is

cut, the gypsum dust that is released can be irritating to the eyes and lungs. Dust from dry mixing

joint compound can be an irritant; pre-mixed compounds can reduce worker dust exposure.

Sanding finished joints can also create a lot of dust. Whenever job tasks may create dust, safety

glasses and respirators or dust masks should be used to protect workers’ eyes and lungs. Proper

ventilation is another method of decreasing the particulates in the air.

Electrical safety should also be of concern to drywallers. When fastening sheetrock to wall

frames workers should use caution around interior wall wiring and ensure that electric boxes

have proper shielding to prevent screws and nails from penetrating them. Powered nail guns,

fasteners, and drills should be properly grounded and in good working order to reduce the risk of

electric shock. Other tools, especially cutting tools, should be in good working order and used

properly.


Drywalling Safety

Date: ___________________________ Presenter: _____________________________


Toolbox Talk

Electrical Safety for Construction

Deenergizing electrical equipment and lockout/tagout The accidental or unexpected sudden start-up of electrical equipment can cause severe injury or

death. Before ANY inspections or repairs are made, the current must be turned off at the switch

box and the switch padlocked in the OFF position (lockout). At the same time, the switch or

controls of the machine or other equipment being locked out of service must be securely tagged

(tagout) to show which equipment or circuits are being worked on.

Maintenance employees should be qualified electricians who have been instructed in lockout

procedures. No two locks should be alike; each key should fit only one lock, and only one key

should be issued to each maintenance employee. If more than one employee is repairing a piece

of equipment, each should lock out the switch with his or her own lock and never permit anyone

else to remove it. The maintenance worker should at all times be certain that he or she is not

exposing other employees to danger.

Overhead lines If work is to be performed near overhead power lines, the lines must be deenergized and

grounded by the owner or operator of the lines or other protective measures must be provided

before work is started. Protective measures (such as guarding or insulating the lines) must be

designed to prevent employees from contacting the lines.

Unqualified employees and mechanical equipment must stay at least 10 feet away from overhead

power lines. If the voltage is more than 50,000 volts, the clearance must be increased by 4 inches

for each additional 10,000 volts. When mechanical equipment is being operated near overhead

lines, employees standing on the ground may not contact the equipment unless it is located so

that the required clearance cannot be violated even at the maximum reach of the equipment.

Personal protective equipment Employees whose occupations require them to work directly with electricity must use the

personal protective equipment required for the jobs they perform. This equipment may consist of

rubber insulating gloves, hoods, sleeves, matting, blankets, line hose, and industrial protective

helmets.

Tools To maximize his or her own safety, an employee should always use tools that work properly.

Tools must be inspected before use, and those found questionable, removed from service and

properly tagged. Tools and other equipment should be regularly maintained. Inadequate

maintenance can cause equipment to deteriorate, resulting in an unsafe condition.

Tools that are used by employees to handle energized conductors must be designed and

constructed to withstand the voltages and stresses to which they are exposed.

Good Judgment Perhaps the single most successful defense against electrical accidents is the continuous

exercising of good judgment or common sense. All employees should be thoroughly familiar

with the safety procedures for their particular jobs. When work is performed on electrical

equipment, for example, some basic procedures are: (1) have equipment deenergized, (2) ensure

that the equipment remains deenergized by using some type of lockout and tag procedure, (3) use

insulating protective equipment, and (4) keep a safe distance from energized parts.


Electrical Safety for Construction

Date: ___________________________ Presenter: _____________________________


Toolbox Talk

Proper Grounding of Electrical Tools

Overview

Each year many workers suffer shock when handling electrical tools and equipment. To protect

ourselves against the hazards of electricity, we must understand the basic facts about the causes

of shock and death. One of the big problems in understanding the dangers of electrical shock is

the mistaken belief that only high voltages kill. It’s not the voltage that kills, but the amount of

current that passes through the body and the condition under which the current passes.

Hazards

Water and electricity can be a fatal combination. Damp areas and metal objects can offer good

shortcuts for electricity to reach the ground. If a worker’s hands are sweaty, if socks and shoes

are moist or damp, if the floor is wet, or if the worker is standing in a puddle of water, the

moisture will allow more current to pass through the body. If work is to be done with metal

objects or in damp areas, workers should recognize the hazards and take necessary precautions.

These precautions may include rubber gloves and rubber soled boots, or insulated tools

Prevention

The following tips can help avoid electrical accidents:

Treat every electric wire as if it were a live one.

Inspect equipment and extension cords before each use.

Take faulty equipment or plugs with bent or missing prongs out of service for repair.

Only qualified electricians should repair electrical equipment or work on energized lines.

If a plug doesn’t have three prongs or if the receptacle doesn’t have three openings, make

sure the tool is grounded in some other way before use.

Never try to bypass an electrical system by cutting off the third prong of a plug.

Turn off the power and report the smell of hot or burning plastic, smoke, sparks or

flickering lights.

Stop using a tool or appliance if a slight shock or tingling is felt.

Never disconnect an electrical plug by pulling on the cord.

Whenever working on an electric circuit, the circuit should be turned off and locked out

at the circuit breaker or fuse box to ensure that the circuit cannot be accidentally turned

on.

Those who regularly work on or around energized electrical equipment should be trained

in emergency response and CPR.

In wet, winter months, extra caution should be observed when working with electrical equipment

or when working near grounded objects.


Proper Grounding of Electrical Tools

Date: ___________________________ Presenter: _____________________________


Toolbox Talk

Ergonomic Breaks, Rest Periods, and Stretches

Overview

Ergonomic injury risk factors include forceful movements, repetitive motions, awkward

postures, and lack of rest. Rest periods give the body time to recover from work; break time

exercises and stretches strengthen the body. Workers should think of themselves as Industrial

Athletes; athletes wouldn’t participate in a sport without proper rest and warm-up, so use the

same preparation on the job.

Breaks

Pay attention to signs of discomfort and fatigue on the job; these are warning signs from your

body. As muscles tire during a work task, slouching can lead to poor posture, sloppy,

uncontrolled movements, and injuries. Rest breaks mean recovery for the body. During a job

task, take micro-breaks lasting 10-15 seconds every ten minutes. Take periodic mini-breaks

lasting 3-5 minutes. These short breaks give the body a rest, reduce discomfort, and improve

your performance.

Rest Periods

Alternate your work activities and postures throughout the day. Rotating tasks may seem

inefficient, but the rest and use of different muscle groups increases energy and maintains

productivity. For example, if you are a landscaper, don’t trim all of the shrubs, sweep up the

trimmings, and then leaf-blow the whole area; work in sections and trim, sweep, and leaf-blow in

alternating tasks. If you work at a single workstation and job task all day, move into different

postures while you work: first standing, then standing with one foot resting on a stool, then

sitting.

Stretches

Stretches help you warm-up before work and relax during breaks; they increase flexibility and

boost blood flow and oxygen to muscles. Perform stretches slowly and gently; avoid extreme

postures and stop stretching if you feel pain or discomfort. Physical and Occupational Therapists

are the most qualified individuals to generate a specific stretching and warm-up program.


Ergonomic Breaks, Rest Periods, and Stretches

Date: ___________________________ Presenter: _____________________________


Toolbox Talk

Repairing Damaged Flexible Cords

Overview

It shouldn't happen, but it does. Even heavy duty extension cords become damaged. If cords do

become damaged you can make repairs, rather than getting a new cord. But merely re-attaching

and wrapping the wires doesn't mean the repair is proper or safe. This tool box talk will review

the correct way to repair electrical cords. The first obvious step is often overlooked. Unplug the

cord and take control of both ends.

Splices: Cut back only enough of the outer and inner insulation to make the repair. Keep

in mind that the color-coded wires on one side need to be connected to the like-colored

wires on the other. In other words, black-to-black, white-to-white, green-to-green.

Stagger the lengths of the inner wire so that, even if the insulation goes bad, the

conductors will not come in contact with each other. If the black wire is long on one side,

it should be short on the other. Make good mechanical connections. Twist the conductors

together and solder, using electrical solder. The splices now need to be insulated.

Electrical tape is not very reliable. Shrink tubing works well. This is a sleeve of plastic

put over one of the wires before it is connected to the other. When the joint is completed,

the sleeve is slipped over the joint, and heated with a small heat source. A hair dryer,

match or lighter will do. When heat is applied, the tubing shrinks around the conductor,

forming tight insulation. We now need to pay attention to the outer jacket. This is

important because the outer jacket protects the inner wires from additional damage.

Shrink tubing could again be used: See NFPA-70 (National Electric Code) for restrictions

on splicing flexible cords.

Plugs: Remove only as much outer jacket as is needed to make the repair. The outer

jacket must be long enough to go into the plug or cap and be gripped by the strain relief

clamp. After the jacket and wires are cut to length, we again must pay attention to the

color coding. The black (or sometimes red) wire is "hot". It goes to the smaller prong on

the plug, which has a brass screw for attachment. The white wire is neutral. It goes to the

larger prong, which is attached with a chrome screw. The green wire is "ground." This

goes to the half-round or curved prong and is attached with a green colored screw. Make

a good connection. All screws must be tight. Reassemble the plug and tighten the clamp

until it is snug on the cord. Do not over-tighten the clamp.

Testing: The repair is not done until the cord has been tested. The easiest way to check

for continuity and correct wiring is to use a simple, inexpensive test light. This device

plugs into the end of the cord and, by way of three lights, indicates if you have continuity

and proper polarity. If you do not, you must redo the repair. You have created a

dangerous situation. Good repairs take simple skills--but you cannot take shortcuts.

Incomplete or improper repairs create fire and shock hazards. Do the job right


Repairing Damaged Flexible Cords

Date: ___________________________ Presenter: _____________________________


Toolbox Talk

Forklift Safety

What is a Powered Industrial Truck?

A Powered Industrial Truck is a mobile, power-driven vehicle used to carry, push, pull, lift or

stack material. They include forklifts (sit down and stand up riders, pallet jack riders, etc.)

Operator Training

Forklifts are a very important part of material handling in many industries. They are also a

source of serious accidents. All personnel who operate forklifts must be trained and certified in

their safe operation every three years. The training includes both classroom and vehicle

operation.

Powered Industrial Truck Stability

Forklift stability is based on the same concept as a teeter-tooter. The load on the forks must be

balanced by the weight of the forklift. The center of gravity is the single point where an object is

balanced in all directions. When a forklift picks up a load, the truck and load have a new

combined center of gravity. The stability of the forklift is determined by the location of its center

of gravity, or if the forklift is loaded, the combined center of gravity.

Powered Industrial Truck Safety

The most recent OSHA data indicates 95,000 workers are injured, and approximately 100 are

killed each year in forklift related incidents. Injuries commonly forklift caused by forklift

incidents include; tip over accident, incidents that involve pedestrians/ riders, and improperly

raising personnel with the forks.

General Safety Rules

1. Keep the load low

2. Keep the load low

3. Plan your route

4. Follow safe speed limits

5. Park safely

6. Watch for pedestrians

7. Avoid sharp turns

8. Watch for loose objects and holes

9. Do not block aisle ways or

emergency response equipment

10. Maintain safe visibility (travel in

reverse is the load blocks your view

11. The load should always face up

inclines

12. Use your horn when approaching

intersection or blind corners

13. Plan your route


Forklift Safety

Date: ___________________________ Presenter: _____________________________


Toolbox Talk

Excavation for Construction - Confined Space

Overview

The OSHA definition of a confined or enclosed space for construction activities is:

(1) limited means of getting out, and

(2) subject to the accumulation of toxic or flammable contaminants or has an oxygen

deficient atmosphere

Normally excavations are not considered confined spaces; they are enclosed areas but are usually

subject to natural ventilation. You do not find reference to confined spaces in the excavation

rule.

Hazardous Atmospheres However, you do find reference to hazardous atmospheres. Under this provision, a competent

person must test excavations where oxygen deficiency (atmospheres containing less than 19.5

percent oxygen), or a hazardous atmosphere exists or could reasonably be expected to exist.

The atmospheres in the excavation must be tested before employees enter excavations greater

than four feet deep. Adequate precaution must be taken to prevent employee exposure to an

atmosphere containing a concentration of a flammable gas in excess of 20 percent of its lower

flammable limit.

Excavations that could raise a red flag as “could reasonably be expected to exist” are excavations

in landfill areas, areas where hazardous substances are stored nearby, hazardous waste cleanup

sites, trenches next to roads on which traffic is flowing (exhaust may allow carbon monoxide

build-up), and underground storage tank digs.

Engineering Controls If hazardous conditions exist, controls such as proper respiratory protection or ventilation must

be provided. Ventilation is probably the best and most effective method of abating a hazardous

atmosphere. In numerous places throughout the OSHA regulations it says you must engineer or

administrate out hazardous atmospheres before resorting to respiratory protection. When controls

such as ventilation are used to reduce atmospheric contaminants to acceptable levels, the

atmosphere must be tested as necessary to ensure it remains safe.

Rescue Operations Where adverse atmospheric conditions may exist or develop in an excavation, the employer must

provide and ensure that emergency rescue equipment (e.g., breathing apparatus, a safety harness

and line, basket stretcher, etc.) is readily available. This equipment must be attended when used.

Employee Training No specific training is mentioned in the Excavation Standard for employees. There are,

however, a number of places where “implied” training is required for competent persons and

engineers.

Of course, in accordance with the “general” training reference for all construction workers,

1926.21(b)(2), employees must be trained to recognize and avoid unsafe conditions and the

regulations applicable to his work environment to control or eliminate the hazards. This is

especially true for trenching and shoring activities.

Training Tips Dwell on what makes an excavation a confined space—hazardous atmospheres. Most

excavations do not have a limited means of egress. Evaluate your excavation sites. Are they

subject to adverse atmospheric conditions existing or developing?


Excavation for Construction - Confined Space

Date: ___________________________ Presenter: _____________________________


Toolbox Talk

Excavation for Construction - OSHA's Top Five Excavation Violations

Overview of Topic Based on National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) statistics, an average of

60 workers die in trench/excavation cave-ins each year. Of the 607 cave-in fatalities identified by

NOSH researchers in the ten year period from 1980 to 1989, construction workers accounted for

77% of those deaths. Almost without exception, trench/excavation deaths can be prevented by

following existing OSHA safety regulations. Several factors contribute to trench cave-ins. For

example, soil stability is related to soil type, and may be affected by changes in weather. In the

spring, unshored trench walls, heavy from rain, can become unstable. Also, when damp soil is

exposed to air during excavation, it can dry out and lose the ability to stand on its own,

increasing the risk that it will slide into the trench. Other factors, such as proximity to highways,

large machinery, backfilled areas or existing structures, can affect soil stability as well.

The following trench/excavation rules are those that OSHA recently cited the most when

inspecting construction jobsites.

#1 — Protection in excavations Employees in an excavation must be protected from a cave-in by an adequate protective

system unless the excavation is: (1) made entirely in stable rock, or (2) less than 5 feet

deep and a competent person has determined there is no indication of a potential cave-in.

Protective systems that may be used include: sloping and benching, trench shields, or

support systems such as timber or aluminum hydraulic shoring. (§1926.652(a)(1))

This is currently the 4th most violated construction regulation.

#2 — Inspections Your competent person must make daily inspections of excavations, the adjacent areas,

and protective systems, for evidence of situations that could result in possible cave-ins,

indications of failure of protective systems, hazardous atmospheres, or other hazardous

conditions. Your competent person must conduct the inspection prior to the start of work

and as needed throughout the shift. Inspections must also be made after every rainstorm

or other hazard increasing occurrence. These inspections are only required when employee

exposure can be reasonably anticipated. (§1926.651(k)(1))

This is currently the 21st most violated construction regulation.

#3 — Access and egress In excavations that are 4 feet or more deep, a stairway, ladder, ramp, or other safe means

of getting out must be located so as to require no more than 25 feet of lateral travel for

employees to reach the escape method. (§1926.651(c)(2))

This is currently the 24th most violated construction regulation.

#4 — Spoil piles and other fall back Employees must be protected from excavated or other materials or equipment that could

pose a hazard by falling or rolling into the excavation. Protection must be provided by

placing and keeping materials/equipment at least 2 feet from the edge of the excavation,

or by the use of retaining devices that are sufficient to prevent materials or equipment

from falling or rolling into excavations, or by a combination of both if necessary.

(§1926.651(j)(2))

#5 — Exposed employees Where your competent person finds evidence of a situation that could result in a possible

cave-in, indications of a failure of a protective system, hazardous atmospheres, or other

hazardous conditions, exposed employees must be removed from the hazardous area until

the necessary precautions have been taken to ensure their safety. (§1926.651(k)(2))


OSHA's Top Five Excavation Violations

Date: ___________________________ Presenter: _____________________________


Toolbox Talk

Excavation for Construction - Pipeline Construction

Overview of Topic The following pipeline construction toolbox talk is based on OSHA safety inspection findings at

various pipeline installation sites of the same contractor. The contractor received willful and

serious violations of the Occupational Safety and Health Act. The citations were for inadequately

guarded trenches, improper operation and maintenance of pipe laying cranes, and allowing

unauthorized employees to ride on machinery. The inspections were: (1) spot checks conducted

under OSHA’s special emphasis program for trenching and excavation, (2) complaints or calls

from the general public alleging unsafe working conditions, and (3) a fatality inspection at one of

the jobsites.

Cave-in-protection The common hazard found at most of the worksites was the lack of adequate cave-in protection

for employees working in trenches five feet or more in depth. Twenty-five American workers

died in trenching-related cave-ins in 1998. OSHA standards require that effective collapse

protection be in place and in use before employees enter a trench. The absence of such protection

leaves workers exposed to being struck by and buried beneath tons of soil before they have a

chance to react or escape.

Other trenching and shoring violations that were observed were:

Water accumulating in a trench.

An inadequately guarded trench.

A trench lacked a ladder or other means of exit every 25 feet.

Spoil piles were placed too close to the edge of excavations.

Unauthorized modifications to heavy equipment A pipe laying crane boom that was pulling an equipment sled fell, struck, and killed an employee

riding on the sled. OSHA cited the company for making unauthorized modifications to the pipe

layer and allowing employees to ride the sled.

Other equipment problems that were cited were:

A custom-made lifting device had not been load-tested or had its load lifting capacity

marked on the device.

Damaged crane slings were in use.

A sling was not marked with its load rating.

A forklift truck was not inspected for defects.

Employee Training No specific training is mentioned in the excavation standard or the OSHA rigging equipment

requirements. However, §1926.21(b)(2) says employees must be trained to recognize and avoid

unsafe conditions and the regulations applicable to his work environment to control or eliminate

the hazards. The OSHA rules at §1926.20(b)(4) says that employers shall permit only those

employees qualified by training or experience to operate equipment and machinery.


Excavation for Construction - Pipeline Construction

Date: ___________________________ Presenter: _____________________________


Toolbox Talk

Excavation for Construction - Protective Systems

Overview of Topic Excavation workers are exposed to many hazards, the chief one being danger of cave-ins. OSHA

requires that all excavations, where employees are exposed to potential cave-ins, must be

protected by sloping, or benching; timber or aluminum hydraulic shoring of or placing a shield

between the side of the excavation and the work area. Employers are free to choose the most

practical design approach for a particular circumstance. Once an approach is selected, the

required performance criteria for that system must be met. The standard does not require

protective systems when an excavation:

is made entirely in stable rock, or

is less than 5 feet deep and a competent person has examined the ground and found no

indication of a potential cave-in.

Protective Systems Designing a protective system is complex because of the number of factors involved: soil

classification, depth of cut, water content of soil, changes due to weather and climate, or other

operations in the vicinity. The OSHA regulations, however, provides several different methods

and approaches. Protective systems must be able to resist, without failure, all loads that are

intended or could reasonably be expected to be applied or transmitted to the system. One method

is to slope the sides to an angle not steeper than one and one-half horizontal to one vertical. A

slope of this gradation (for Type C soil) or less is considered safe for any type of soil.

A second design method, which can be applied for both sloping and shoring, involves using

tabulated data, such as tables and charts, approved by a registered professional engineer (RPE).

Contractors may also use a trench box or shield that is either designed or approved, or is based

on tabulated data prepared or approved by a RPE. Timber, aluminum, or other suitable materials

may also be used. OSHA standards permit the use of a trench shield (also known as a welder’s

hut) as long as the protection provided is equal to or greater than the protection that would be

provided by the appropriate shoring system.

Installation and Removal of Protective Systems The standard requires the following steps for protecting employees when installing support

systems:

1. securely connect,

2. safely install,

3. never overload members, and

4. install other structural members to carry loads imposed on the support system when

temporary removal of individual members is necessary.

As soon as work is completed, the excavation should be backfilled as the protective system is

dismantled. After the excavation is cleared, workers should slowly remove the protective system

from the bottom up, taking care to release members slowly.

Materials and Equipment Employers are responsible for the safe condition of materials and equipment used for protective

systems. Defective and damaged materials and equipment can result in the failure of a protective

system and cause excavation hazards. If materials and equipment are not safe for use, they must

be removed from service. These materials cannot be returned to service without the evaluation

and approval of a registered professional engineer.


Excavation for Construction - Protective Systems

Date: ___________________________ Presenter: _____________________________


Toolbox Talk

Excavation for Construction - Rescue Operations

Overview of Topic Over 50% of the workers who die in confined spaces are attempting to rescue other workers.

Unplanned rescue, such as when someone instinctively rushes in to help a downed coworker, can

easily result in a double fatality or even multiple fatalities if there is more than one would-be

rescuer.

Construction Regulations When your “excavation” competent person determines that hazardous atmospheric conditions

exist or may reasonably be expected to develop during work in an excavation, and that

excavation is greater than four feet deep, emergency rescue equipment, such as breathing

apparatus, a safety harness and line, or a basket stretcher, is required to be readily available.

This determination is based on the conditions at each jobsite.

Standby person(s) must attend emergency equipment when the determination is made that it is

necessary. Constant visual or auditory communication with the person on the inside must be

maintained. In an OSHA Letter of Explanation it was determined that a contractor cannot rely on

a local rescue squad instead of providing rescue equipment. Many emergency situations

associated with the hazards involved with hazardous atmospheres in trenches would normally

require an immediate response within a few minutes or even seconds. A rescue squad would be

unable to provide the necessary response.

General Industry—Permit Required Confined Spaces Although not a part of the construction regulations you can get some good ideas for your

excavation rescue procedures from the OSHA general industry rule at 1910.146-Permit Required

Confined Spaces.

Attendants — A confined space attendant must:

o know the hazards of confined spaces,

o be aware of behavioral effects of potential exposures,

o maintain continuous count and identification of authorized entrants,

o remain outside the space until relieved, and

o should communicate with entrants as necessary to monitor entrant status.

o monitor activities inside and outside the permit space and order exit if required,

o summon rescuers if necessary,

o prevent unauthorized entry into the confined space, and

o perform non-entry rescues if required.

Attendants may not perform other duties that interfere with their primary duty to monitor and

protect the safety of authorized entrants.

An attendant should be assigned to remain on the outside of the confined space and be in

constant contact (visual or speech) with the workers inside. The attendant should not have any

other duties but to serve as standby and know who should be notified in case of emergency.

Attendants should not enter a confined space until help arrives, and then only with proper

protective equipment, life lines, and respirators.

Employee Training No specific training is mentioned in the Excavation Standard for employees. There are,

however, a number of places where “implied” training is required for competent persons and

engineers. Of course, in accordance with the “general” training reference for all construction

workers, 1926.21(b)(2), employees must be trained to recognize and avoid unsafe conditions

and the regulations applicable to his work environment to control or eliminate the hazards. This

is especially true for trenching and shoring activities.


Excavation for Construction - Rescue Operations

Date: ___________________________ Presenter: _____________________________


Toolbox Talk

Excavation for Construction - Site Safety

Overview of Topic

Many excavation accidents are a direct result of inadequate initial planning. It is important,

before beginning an excavation job, to establish and maintain a safety and health plan for the

worksite. This plan should provide adequate policies, procedures, and practices to protect

employees from, and allow them to recognize, job-related safety and health hazards. The plan

should reflect the unique characteristics of the jobsite. To be sure safety policies are

implemented effectively, there must be cooperation among supervisors, employee groups,

including unions, and individual employees. Each supervisor must understand the degree of

responsibility and authority he or she holds in a particular area. It is a good idea for contractors

to develop safety checklists to make certain there is adequate information about the jobsite and

all needed items are on hand. When preparing checklists, specific site conditions should be taken

into account. Some of those are:

traffic

nearness of structures and their condition

soil

surface and ground water

the water table

overhead and underground utilities

weather

Checklists should also incorporate elements of relevant OSHA standards as well as other

information necessary for safe operations. These and other conditions can be determined by a

jobsite safety analysis to identify potential hazards, observations, test borings for soil type or

conditions, and consultations with local officials and utility companies. It is also important,

before beginning work, to provide employees exposed to public vehicular traffic with warning

vests or other suitable garments marked with or made of reflective or high-visibility material.

You must ensure that they wear the safety equipment. Workers must also be instructed to remove

or neutralize surface encumbrances that may create a hazard. In addition, no employee should

operate a piece of equipment without first being properly trained to handle it, and fully alerted to

its potential hazards.

Equipment Inventory

When all the necessary specific information about the job site is assembled, the contractor is

ready to determine the amount, kind, and cost of the safety equipment needed. No matter how

many trenching, shoring and backfilling jobs have been done in the past, each job should be

approached with the utmost care and preparation.

Competent Person

The standard requires that a competent person inspect, on a daily basis, excavations and the

adjacent areas for possible cave-ins, failures of protective systems and equipment, hazardous

atmospheres, or other hazardous conditions. If these conditions are encountered, exposed

employees must be removed from the hazardous area until the necessary safety precautions have

been taken. Inspections are also required after natural or man-made events, such as blasting, or

heavy rains, that may increase the potential for hazards.


Excavation for Construction - Site Safety

Date: ___________________________ Presenter: _____________________________


Toolbox Talk

Excavation for Construction - Soil Classification

Overview of Topic

Soil classification must be a part of the initial planning stage of an excavation. Mistakes in soil

classification can be costly by requiring changes in shoring and/or sloping decisions and even

excavation failure. Excavation failure can mean extra costs and possibly injury and death to

employees. Designing a protective system can be complex because of the number of factors

involved-soil classification, depth of cut, water content of soil, changes due to weather and

climate, or other operations in the vicinity. It is the responsibility of your excavations “competent

person” to classify the soil at the excavation site and then select a proper sloping, or benching

system to protect workers.

Soil Classification

Each soil and rock deposit at an excavation site must be classified by your competent person as

stable rock, Type A, Type B, or Type C soil. Examples of the different soil types are:

Stable rock - Natural solid mineral material that can be excavated with vertical sides and

will remain intact while exposed.

Type A - Examples include clay, silty clay, sand clay, clay loam, and sometimes silty clay

loam and sandy clay loam.

Type B - Examples include silt, silt loam, sandy loam and sometime silty clay loam and

sandy clay loam.

Type C - Examples include granular soils like gravel, sand, loamy sand, submerged soil,

and soil from which water is freely seeping, and submerged rock that is not stable.

Soil classification is not necessary if the excavation will be sloped to an angle of one and one-

half horizontal to one vertical. Appendix A to the excavation rules describes a method of

classifying soil and rock deposits based on site and environmental conditions, and on the

structure and composition of the earth deposits. The appendix contains definitions, sets forth

requirements, and describes acceptable visual and manual tests for use in classifying soils.

The appendix can be used to design a method of protection for employees from cave-ins when:

(1) sloping or benching, (2) timber shoring, or (3) aluminum hydraulic shoring, is used. The soil

classification must be made based on the results of at least one visual and one manual analysis.

The visual and manual analysis must be designed and conducted to provide sufficient

quantitative and qualitative information as may be necessary to identify properly the properties,

factors, and conditions affecting the classification. In a layered system, the system must be

classified by its weakest layer. However, each layer may be classified individually where a more

stable layer lies under a less stable layer. If, after classifying a deposit, the properties, factors, or

conditions affecting its classification change in any way, the changes must be evaluated by your

competent person and the deposit reclassified as necessary.


Excavation for Construction - Soil Classification

Date: ___________________________ Presenter: _____________________________


Toolbox Talk

Excavation for Construction - Trench Safety

Overview of Topic

Trenches/excavations can either be death traps or safe places for employees to work. Do you let

employees enter an unsafe trench for just a minute? Do you follow OSHA and company rules for

excavation work? It all adds up. Before allowing employees to enter a trench do you:

Clear all surface hazards and move the spoil pile back the required two feet?

Locate and protect, support, or remove all underground utilities and other hazards?

Provide a safe means of entry and exit from excavations that are more than four feet

deep, that meets OSHA requirements?

Test for and abate hazardous atmospheres if they exist, or could reasonably be expected

to exist?

Provide emergency rescue equipment where hazardous atmospheres exist or could

reasonably be expected to develop during work in the excavation?

Provide adequate protection for employees working in excavations where water is

accumulating or could accumulate?

Provide protection for employees from loose rock or soil that could pose a hazard by

falling or rolling from the excavation face?

Do you require your company competent person to:

o Inspect the excavation, adjacent area, and protective systems daily for evidence of

situations that could result in possible cave-ins, indications of failure of

protective systems, hazardous atmospheres, or other hazardous conditions?

o Inspect the excavation after every rainstorm or other hazard increasing

occurrence?

o Remove employees from the trench/excavation if any of the above hazards exist?

Provide walkways where employees and/or equipment are required or permitted to cross

over excavations?

Protect employees in an excavation from a cave-in by an adequate protective system

designed in accordance with the OSHA regulations (this could include sloping and

benching, support, or shield systems)?

If you can answer yes to all of the previous questions, then you can be reasonably sure your

employees are safe while working on your excavation project.

Employee Requirements

Make sure employees are aware of and know:

The previous listed requirements.

When to leave an excavation and how to respond to an emergency.

How to properly use the equipment and protective gear you have provided.

Safe work practices when you or the company competent person is not around.

How to report unsafe situations immediately to their supervisor/competent person.

Trenches are nothing to monkey around with. Your employees need to know you are sincere

about following the rules and you expect them to do the same.


Excavation for Construction - Trench Safety

Date: ___________________________ Presenter: _____________________________


Toolbox Talk

Excavation Safety

Overview

Excavation and trenching cave-ins result in more than 100 fatalities annually in the United

States. Too often an improperly protected trench or excavation wall will collapse, trapping

workers. These accidents can be eliminated if we follow proper excavation and trenching

procedures. OSHA Construction Standards for Excavation can be found in Subpart P 1926.650-

.652.

An excavation is any mechanically-made cavity or depression in the earth's surface, from cellars

to highways. A shoring system, sloping of ground, or some other equivalent means must be used

to protect all employees exposed to danger from moving ground in all excavations. In addition,

all trenches over 5 feet deep in either hard and compact, or soft and unstable soil must be sloped,

shored, sheeted, braced or otherwise supported. Trenches less than 5 feet in depth must also be

effectively protected when hazardous ground movement may be expected.

Any surface encumbrances which may create a hazard to employees shall be removed or

supported, as necessary, to safeguard employees. The presence of all underground installations

such as sewer, telephone, fuel, electric, or water lines shall be determined prior to opening an

excavation.

Prevention

There are three ways to protect against accidents. Protective systems include shoring, sloping,

and a trench shield or box. Shoring is a structure such as a metal hydraulic, mechanical, or timber

bracing system that supports the sides of an excavation. A shoring system may include sheeting,

bracing or jacks. Sloping is accomplished by cutting the banks of the excavation back to the

angle of repose. At this angle the soil won't slide. This angle varies, and depends on the soil type.

A trench shield or box is a heavy metal box designed to be placed in a trench; it prevents the

sides of the trench from caving in. Trench boxes are used in many types of sewer and pipeline

work.

A competent person must inspect the excavation and adjacent areas daily for possible cave-ins,

failure of protective systems, hazardous atmospheres, or any other condition which may present

a hazard.

Excavations 4 feet deep or more must have sufficient means of exit and these must be within 25

feet of lateral travel.


Excavation Safety

Date: ___________________________ Presenter: _____________________________


Toolbox Talk

Excavation for Construction - Underground Utilities

Overview of Topic

Accidental contact with underground utilities can be both deadly and costly. It is a routine event

for local radio stations to announce that a gas, electric transmission, or sewer line, etc., was

damaged by construction workers. This should not be the accepted norm.

Locating Underground Utilities

Before excavation work begins, OSHA rules require contractors doing the work to determine the

estimated location of utility installations: sewer, telephone, fuel, electric, water lines, or any

other underground installations that may be encountered during digging. Contractors must

contact the utility companies or owners and inform them, within established or customary local

response times, of the proposed work. In some areas, this could also be accomplished by calling

diggers hotline or a one-call system. Contractors must also ask the utility companies or

land/building owners to find the exact location of the underground installations. If they cannot

respond within 24 hours (unless the period required by state or local law is longer), or if they

cannot find the exact location of the utility installations, contractors may proceed with caution.

Construction companies need not contact utility companies or owners when the excavation work

is to be done in a remote location where:

No underground installations are likely to be hit, or

There are no features which would indicate the presence of underground installations.

However, it may be a good idea to make a phone call to the utility companies or land/building

owners just to verify the possibility of underground utilities, however remote.

Detection Equipment and Locating the Installations

If contractors proceed on their own, detection equipment or other acceptable means to locate

utility installations must be used. When the operation approaches the estimated location of

underground installations, the exact location must be determined by a safe and acceptable means.

The underground utility must be located and totally exposed before machine digging begins.

Hazardous Atmospheres

You must remember that where there are utilities, there is the possibility of hazardous

atmospheres. If there is the potential that hazardous atmospheres exist or could reasonably be

expected to exist, atmospheric testing and control is required. After utility discovery, and while

the excavation is open, underground installations must be protected, supported, or removed as

necessary to safeguard employees.


Excavation for Construction - Underground Utilities

Date: ___________________________ Presenter: _____________________________


Toolbox Talk

Fall Protection for Construction - Falling Object Protection

Overview of Topic The falling object protection rules require you to take measures to protect employees exposed to

falling object hazards. Although the fall protection rule doesn’t mention hard hats, they are the

number one defense against overhead hazards, including falling objects. However, just as in the

scaffold rule, you must use hard hats and an additional method of protection described in the

regulations. This OSHA provision applies when there are employees below a walking/working

surface or wall opening from which an object could fall.

Falling object protection alternatives OSHA provides a number of falling object protection methods to select from depending on your

need. Your choices are toeboards and screens, guardrails, protective canopies, signs, barricades,

or simply moving the objects away from an edge a distance sufficient to prevent them from

falling should they accidentally be moved.

Falling object protection methods

Guardrails - When guardrails are used to prevent materials from falling from one level to

another, any openings must be small enough to prevent passage of potential falling

objects.

Toeboards - When toeboards are used as protection from falling objects, they must be

erected along the edges of the overhead walking/working surface for a distance sufficient

to protect persons working below. To ensure a toeboard can stop falling objects, they

must be capable of withstanding a force of at least 50 pounds applied in any downward or

outward direction at any point along the toeboard. Toeboards must be a minimum of 3.5

inches tall from their top edge to walking/working surface, have no more than 0.25

inches clearance above the walking/working surface, and be solid or have openings no

larger than one inch. Where tools, equipment, or materials are piled higher than the top

edge of a toeboard, paneling or screening must be erected from the walking/working

surface or toeboard to the top of a guardrail system’s toprail or midrail, for a distance

sufficient to protect employees below.

Materials storage - To prevent tripping hazards, no materials or equipment, except

masonry and mortar, can be stored within four feet of working edges. Excess mortar,

broken or scattered masonry units, and all other materials and debris must be kept clear of

the working area by removing regularly. During roofing work, materials and equipment

cannot be stored within six feet of a roof edge unless guardrails are erected at the edge.

Materials piled, grouped, or stacked near a roof edge must be stable and self-supporting.

Canopies - When used as a protection from falling objects, canopies must be strong

enough to prevent collapse and prevent penetration by any objects that may fall onto

them.


Fall Protection for Construction - Falling Object Protection

Date: ___________________________ Presenter: _____________________________


Toolbox Talk

Fall Protection for Construction - Inspecting Your Harness & Lanyards

Overview of Topic Personal fall arrest systems, as the name implies, are used to keep a worker from falling from a

working level. The fall arrest system consists of an anchorage, connectors, body harness, and

may include a lanyard, deceleration device, lifeline or a combination. Employees need to know

that when using fall protection equipment:

the fall protection is something they cannot take for granted.

that they must wear it for it to work.

that the fall protection must be inspected each and every time before it is used.

when any defects are noted, the fall protection must not be used until it has been

repaired.

Employees trust their lives to the fall protection equipment, so it only makes sense for them to

take the time to inspect it prior to use.

OSHA requirements OSHA requires the pre-use inspection of fall protection equipment. Fall protection must be

inspected for wear, damage, and other deterioration (29 CFR 1926.502(d)(21)). If the equipment

is defective, it must be removed from service.

What to look for There are some common causes of wear and damage. As with all equipment, read and follow the

manufacturer’s guidelines for inspections.

Excessive dirt

o can cause deterioration of the equipment. Contaminants can come into contact

with the harness or lanyard, and get into the webbing. The dirt abrades the fibers

of the webbing which weakens them. Certain chemicals can also eat into the

fibers or negatively react with the material. Try to keep fall protection gear as

clean as possible.

Fading o caused by exposure ultraviolet (UV) rays can damage the fibers of the webbing.

Inspect webbing for stiff, brittle, or discolored areas, and for webbing that looks

faded.

Cuts, tears, and holes o are caused by contact with or damage from tools, equipment, or materials. Check

the edges of the webbing, and also check around stitching, connectors, and

buckles.

Burns or areas that are eaten away o are areas of damage caused by heat or by chemical contact. Fall protection used

in hazardous environments (mixing chemicals, pouring molten metals, welding,

and other hot work) need special attention. Webbing in these situations can be

severely damaged in a very short period of time.

When used in these severe environments, employees may need to inspect their fall protection

equipment several times during the course of a shift. If employees are not sure of the state of

their fall protection equipment, or if there are questions as to the suitability of the equipment,

take it out of service until it can be inspected by a competent person familiar with fall protection

equipment.


Fall Protection for Construction - Inspecting Your Harness & Lanyards

Date: ___________________________ Presenter: _____________________________


Toolbox Talk

Fall Protection for Construction - OSHA’s Top 5 Fall Protection Violations

Overview of Topic Each year, falls account for the greatest number of fatalities in the construction industry, and are

always a major concern in other industries. This 5 Minute lesson gives you the opportunity to

share with your employees those top five fall protection violations that OSHA inspectors

constantly find not being followed or followed incorrectly at construction jobsites.

Note: These OSHA citations cover general fall protection. They do not cover falls from scaffolds,

aerial lifts, steel erection, etc. Those subject areas have their own fall protection rules.

1. Unprotected sides and edges a. Each employee on a walking/working surface with an unprotected side or edge 6

feet or more above a lower level must be protected from falling by the use of

guardrail, safety net, or personal fall arrest systems. (§1926.501(b)(1)) This is

currently the No. 1 most cited construction regulation.

2. Residential construction a. Except as otherwise provided in .501(b), employees doing residential construction

activities 6 feet or more above lower levels must be protected by a guardrail,

safety net, or personal fall arrest system. (§1926.501(b)(13) If you can

demonstrate that it is infeasible or creates a greater hazard to use one of the above

systems, you can develop and implement a fall protection plan meeting the

requirements of paragraph .502(k) of the fall protection regulations. This is

currently the 4th most cited construction regulation.

3. Training requirements a. You must provide a training program for each employee who may be exposed to

fall hazards. Your program must: (1) enable employees to recognize the hazards

of falling [specific to their jobsite], and (2) train employees in the procedures to

be followed to minimize those hazards. (§1926.503(a)(1)) This is currently the

11th most cited construction regulation.

4. Roofing work on low-slope roofs a. Except as otherwise provided in .501(b), employees on low-slope roofs, with

unprotected sides and edges 6 feet or more above lower levels, must be protected

from falling by a guardrail, safety net, or personal fall arrest system.

(§1926.501(b)(10)) You can also use a combination of a warning line and: (1)

guardrail, (2) safety net, (3) personal fall arrest, or (4) safety monitoring system.

Or, on roofs 50-feet wide or less, you can use a safety monitoring system alone.

This is currently the 14th most cited construction regulation.

5. Working on steep roofs a. Each employee on a steep roof with unprotected sides and edges 6 feet (1.8 m) or

more above lower levels shall be protected from falling by:

i. Guardrail systems with toeboards,

ii. Safety net systems, or

iii. Personal fall arrest systems.

b. This is currently the 32nd most cited construction regulation.

Studies have shown that the use of guardrails, fall arrest systems, safety nets, covers, and travel

restriction systems can prevent many deaths and injuries from falls.


Fall Protection for Construction - OSHA’s Top 5 Fall Protection Violations

Date: ___________________________ Presenter: _____________________________


Toolbox Talk

Fall Protection for Construction - Equipment and Systems

Guardrails Guardrails are barriers put up to prevent falls to a lower level. They can be used to protect

employees from falls from unprotected sides and edges; during leading edge work; through holes

including skylights; from ramps, runways, or other walkways; and into or onto dangerous

equipment.

Safety nets Safety nets are used as protection at unprotected sides, leading edges, working on the face of

formwork or reinforcing steel, overhead or below surface bricklaying, work on roofs, precast

concrete work, residential construction, and wall openings. Safety nets must be installed as close

as practicable under the walking/working surface on which employees are working, but never

more than 30-feet below that level.

Personal fall arrest equipment Note: Effective January 1, 1998:

Body belts are not acceptable as part of a personal fall arrest system. Body belts are

acceptable in positioning device systems.

Only locking type snaphooks can be used.

Fall restraint (Positioning device system) means a body belt or body harness used to prevent an

employee from free falling more than two feet and where self rescue can be assured. It consists

of an anchorage, connectors, a body belt or harness and may include a lanyard, deceleration

device, lifeline, or suitable combination of these.

Personal fall arrest equipment protects you from falling when working around unprotected sides

and edges, leading edge work, hoist areas when loading or unloading materials, form and

reinforcing steel work, overhead or below surface bricklaying, work on low-sloped or steep

roofs, precast concrete work, residential construction, and wall openings.

Other fall protection systems The fall protection rule lists other (secondary) systems and equipment you can use in certain

situations. They are:

Safety monitoring system — Used when working on low-slope roofs only. It must be used

with a warning line system.

Covers — required for holes, including skylights.

Warning lines — must be must be erected around all sides of the roof work area and shall

consist of ropes, wires, or chains, and supporting stanchion.

Positioning devices — used on the face of formwork or reinforcing steel structures and

other situations where hands must be free to work.

Controlled access zones — shall consist of ropes, wires, tapes, or equivalent materials,

and supporting stanchions. Each line must be flagged or otherwise clearly marked at

not more than 6-foot intervals with high-visibility material.

Protection from falling objects.

Fall protection plan — available only to employees doing leading edge, precast concrete

erection, or residential construction.

Employee Training Section 1926.503 sets certain criteria for your employees who are required to use fall protection

equipment and systems. The training requires you to provide a program for each employee

exposed to fall hazards. You must train your employees to recognize the hazards of falling and

the procedures they should follow in order to minimize the hazards.


Fall Protection for Construction - Equipment and Systems

Date: ___________________________ Presenter: _____________________________


Toolbox Talk

Fall Protection for Construction

Understanding the hazard You may want to explain the difference between kinds of falls. This is important because some

falls cause more severe injuries than others:

Falls from the same level

o Involve falling at the same level and result in a person falling to the floor or to the

ground. Examples include slips and trips. Slips and trips have a high frequency

rate but a low injury severity rate.

Falls from an elevation—

Involve falling from one level to another. Examples include falling from a scaffold to the

ground below. These types of falls have a relatively low frequency rate but a high injury

severity rate.

Fall protection methods Start your fall protection training with the fall protection systems your company has put in place

to prevent falls. These measures could include:

Guardrail systems and toeboards—

o A guardrail is a vertical barrier, normally consisting of an assembly of toprails,

midrails, and posts, erected to prevent employees from falling to lower levels. A

toeboard is a barrier placed to prevent the fall of materials to a lower level, or to

keep employees' feet from slipping over an edge.

Handrail and stair rail systems—

o A handrail is used to assist employees going up or down stairways, ramps, or

other walking/working surfaces by providing a handhold for support. A stair rail

protects employees from falling over the edge of an open-sided stairway.

Slip-resistant floors—

o Slip-resistant flooring material such as textured, serrated, or punched surfaces and

steel grating may increase slip-resistance. These types of floor surfaces should be

installed in work areas that are generally slippery because of wet, oily, or dirty

operations. Slip-resistant footwear may also be useful in reducing slipping

hazards.

Effective housekeeping can minimize fall hazards where slippery surfaces are due to

temporary or intermittent conditions. Use absorbents to clean up a spill where oily

materials or corrosive liquids are accidentally spilled.

Reporting fall hazards Reporting fall hazards is part of any effective safety effort. But before employees will report

hazards routinely, they need to know that they won't experience repercussions from such reports.

Your training session is an ideal way to convey such information. Instruct employees to report

unsafe equipment, conditions, or procedures. Let them know that equipment repair receives top

priority. State that under no circumstances should defective fall protection equipment be used.

Housekeeping Housekeeping is an important component in preventing falls. Remind trainees that high work

areas should be kept free from tools, materials, debris, or liquids that could create slippery

surfaces. Falling objects may also be hazards.


Fall Protection for Construction

Date: ___________________________ Presenter: _____________________________


Toolbox Talk

Fall Protection for Construction – General Requirements

Overview of Topic To prevent falls you have a duty to anticipate the need to work at heights and plan your

employees work activities accordingly. Careful planning and preparation lay the groundwork for

an accident free worksite. Before your employees go to work “at heights” you need to look at a

few issues. You need to:

Understand the duty to provide fall protection.

Assess the worksite for fall hazards.

Select the correct protection system.

Employees are a valuable source for locating hazards. Involve them in the process; teach them

how to do worksite assessments, recognize fall hazards, and select the proper fall equipment.

Then ask them to help! Contributing employees are safer employees.

A duty to provide fall protection When an employee is working six feet or more above lower levels, OSHA points out specific

areas and operations where fall protection is required. Those areas/operations are: ramps,

runways, walkways, excavations, hoist areas, holes, form and reinforcing steel work, leading

edge work, unprotected sides and edges, overhand bricklaying and related work, roofing work,

precast concrete erection, wall openings, and residential construction. The OSHA rules at

1926.501(b)(1)(xiv) point out the protection options you have to satisfy the requirements.

If the situation is not “listed” in the OSHA rules then 1926.501(b)(15) (walking/working

surfaces not otherwise addressed), is appropriate. This reference says that if none of the other

situations fit, you must still protect employees working six feet or more above lower levels by

using a guardrail, safety net, or personal fall arrest system.

Worksite assessment You are required to survey the worksite to determine if the walking/working surfaces on which

employees are going to work have the strength and structural integrity to safely support them.

Once you have determined that the surface is safe, you must then select one of the fall protection

options for the particular work operation when the walking/working surface is six feet or more

above a lower level. You must make a reasonable effort to anticipate the particular hazards to

which your employees may be exposed to during their work. Specifically, you must: (1) inspect

the area to determine what hazards exist or may arise, (2) identify hazards correctly and select

the appropriate measures and equipment, (3) give specific and appropriate instructions to prevent

exposure to unsafe conditions, (4) ensure employees follow the procedures given and understand

the training provided.

Select correct protection system All fall protection systems must conform to the criteria in 1926.502 (Fall protection systems

criteria and practices). The systems and equipment must be provided and installed, and all

pertinent requirements of the rules met before your employees begin any work on or from the

surface on which they will be protected. Most situations provide several choices for providing

fall protection, but some limit the choices. For example, only guardrail systems are permitted to

be used to protect employees on ramps and runways and other walkways.


Fall Protection for Construction – General Requirements

Date: ___________________________ Presenter: _____________________________


Toolbox Talk

Fall Protection for Construction - An Overview

Overview of Topic In construction work, falls are the leading cause of worker fatalities. Each year, between 150 and

200 workers die, and more than 100,000 are injured as a result of falls at construction sites. The

fall protection rule deals with both employee and equipment issues in protecting workers from

falls.

Employers need to:

Select systems and equipment appropriate for the situation

Properly construct and install safety systems.

Train workers in the proper selection, use, and maintenance of fall protection systems.

Employees need to:

Use safe work practices.

Use fall protection equipment properly.

Always wear provided fall protection equipment.

Who does the rule apply to? Note: Fall protection requirements for scaffolds (including aerial lifts), cranes and derricks, steel

erection, tunneling operations, electric transmission and distribution lines and equipment work,

and stairways and ladders are found in other subparts in the construction regulations. The general

construction fall protection rule (29 CFR 1926, Subpart M) covers most construction workers

except those inspecting, investigating, or assessing workplace conditions prior to the actual start

of work or after all work is done. The rule identifies areas or activities where fall protection is

needed. These include: (1) ramps, runways, and other walkways, (2) excavations, (3) hoist areas,

(4) holes, (5) formwork and reinforcing steel, (6) leading edge work, (7) unprotected sides and

edges, (8) overhand bricklaying and related work, (9) roofing work, (10) precast concrete

erection, (11) wall openings, (12) residential construction, and (13) other walking/working

surfaces.

What is the threshold height? The rule sets a uniform threshold height of six (6) feet. This means you must protect your

employees from fall hazards whenever an employee is working six feet or more above a lower

level. Protection must also be provided for construction workers who are exposed to the hazard

of falling into dangerous equipment. Each employee less than six feet above dangerous

equipment must be protected from falling by a guardrail system or equipment guard. If the

employee is six feet or more above the equipment, the protection must be guardrail, personal fall

arrest, or a safety net system.

Selection of equipment Employers can select fall protection measures and equipment compatible with the type of work

being performed. Fall protection can generally be provided through the use of guardrail, safety

net, personal fall arrest, positioning device, and warning line systems.


Fall Protection for Construction - An Overview

Date: ___________________________ Presenter: _____________________________


Toolbox Talk

Falls

Overview

With predictable regularity, falls are a leading cause of accidents and deaths on the job. Falls

include those on the same level (floor, ground), as well as from one level to another (stairs,

ladders, roof, etcetera). They can be caused by a variety of reasons - an unsafe action of an

individual (hurrying, overreaching, improper use of equipment, etc.) or unsafe condition of the

situation (poor housekeeping, unguarded opening, surface condition, etc.).

Prevention

Good footing is the best way to avoid falls and good housekeeping is the best way to ensure good

footing. Trash, wires, and slippery areas caused by water, grease, or oil can cause falls. Watch

footing when working on slick flooring and poorly lit areas; where floors are uneven from room

to room; and where surfaces are uneven from broken concrete, cracked asphalt or curled rugs.

Always look in the direction you are walking. Avoid carrying large objects that may block your

view of a safe walking path. Walk slowly on stairs and use handrails to secure your step.

Cover, guard, or mark spills, potholes, and floor openings. Protect them with warning cones,

guardrails, or toe boards. Except for normal doorways, protect wall openings and stairways

through which someone could fall. The protection should be sufficiently strong and secured to

prevent it from being removed.

Ladders

Makeshift or damaged ladders or incorrect ladder selection can cause falls. Choose the right

ladder for the job. Complete a pre-use inspection, securely position the ladder and ensure

spreaders or other locking devices are in place. Face the ladder and keep three points of contact

at all times.


Falls

Date: ___________________________ Presenter: _____________________________


Toolbox Talk Fall Protection for Construction - Inspecting Your Harness & Lanyards for Construction

Overview of Topic Personal fall arrest systems, as the name implies, are used to keep a worker from falling from a

working level. The fall arrest system consists of an anchorage, connectors, body harness, and

may include a lanyard, deceleration device, lifeline or a combination. Employees need to know

that when using fall protection equipment:

the fall protection is something they cannot take for granted.

that they must wear it for it to work.

that the fall protection must be inspected each and every time before it is used.

when any defects are noted, the fall protection must not be used until it has been

repaired.

Employees trust their lives to the fall protection equipment, so it only makes sense for them to

take the time to inspect it prior to use.

OSHA requirements OSHA requires the pre-use inspection of fall protection equipment. Fall protection must be

inspected for wear, damage, and other deterioration (29 CFR 1926.502(d)(21)). If the equipment

is defective, it must be removed from service.

What to look for There are some common causes of wear and damage. As with all equipment, read and follow the

manufacturer’s guidelines for inspections.

Excessive dirt

o can cause deterioration of the equipment. Contaminants can come into contact

with the harness or lanyard, and get into the webbing. The dirt abrades the fibers

of the webbing which weakens them. Certain chemicals can also eat into the

fibers or negatively react with the material. Try to keep fall protection gear as

clean as possible.

Fading o caused by exposure ultraviolet (UV) rays can damage the fibers of the webbing.

Inspect webbing for stiff, brittle, or discolored areas, and for webbing that looks

faded.

Cuts, tears, and holes o are caused by contact with or damage from tools, equipment, or materials. Check

the edges of the webbing, and also check around stitching, connectors, and

buckles.

Burns or areas that are eaten away o are areas of damage caused by heat or by chemical contact. Fall protection used

in hazardous environments (mixing chemicals, pouring molten metals, welding,

and other hot work) need special attention. Webbing in these situations can be

severely damaged in a very short period of time.

When used in these severe environments, employees may need to inspect their fall protection

equipment several times during the course of a shift. If employees are not sure of the state of

their fall protection equipment, or if there are questions as to the suitability of the equipment,

take it out of service until it can be inspected by a competent person familiar with fall protection

equipment.


Fall Protection for Construction - Inspecting Your Harness & Lanyards for Construction

Date: ___________________________ Presenter: _____________________________


Toolbox Talk

Good Housekeeping

Overview

Good housekeeping is one of the surest ways to identify a safe workplace. You can tell how

workers' feel about safety just by looking at their housekeeping practices. Good housekeeping

isn't the result of cleaning up once a week or even once a day. It's the result of keeping cleaned-

up all the time. It's an essential factor in a good safety program, promoting safety, health,

production, and morale.

Whose responsibility is housekeeping? It's everyone's. Clean work areas and aisles help

eliminate tripping hazards. Respecting "wet floor" signs and immediately cleaning up spills

prevents slipping injuries. Keeping storage areas uncluttered reduces the chances of disease and

fire as well as slips, trips, and falls. Accumulated debris can cause fires, and clutter slows

movement of personnel and equipment during fires.

Other housekeeping practices include keeping tools and equipment clean and in good shape or

keeping hoses and cables or wires bundled when not in use. Broken glass should be picked up

immediately with a broom and dustpan, never with bare hands. Be aware of open cabinet

drawers, electric wires, sharp corners or protruding nails. Either correct the unsafe condition if

you are able and it is safe to do so, or notify the person responsible for overall maintenance that

something should be done.

How a workplace looks makes an impression on employees and visitors alike. A visitor's first

impression of a business is important because that image affects the amount of business it does.

Good housekeeping goes hand-in-hand with good public relations. It projects order, care, and

pride.

Besides preventing accidents and injuries, good housekeeping saves space, time, and materials.

When a workplace is clean, orderly, and free of obstruction; work can get done safely and

properly. Workers feel better, think better, do better work, and increase the quantity and quality

of their work.


Good Housekeeping

Date: ___________________________ Presenter: _____________________________


Toolbox Talk

Ground Fault Circuit Interrupters

Overview

Ground Fault Circuit Interrupters (GFCI) are devices designed to prevent accidental electric

shock and electrocution by preventing ground faults. They also protect against electrical fires,

tool/appliance overheating, and destruction of wire insulation. GFCI’s are required by building

code in “wet” locations like kitchens and bathrooms and by OSHA at construction sites.

Hazards

The most common electric shock hazard, ground faults can cause severe electrical shock or

electrocution. In normal conditions, electricity runs in a closed circuit; electricity flows out on

the "hot" wire and returns on the "neutral" wire, completing the circuit. A ground fault occurs

when the electrical current does not complete its circuit and unintentionally flows to the ground.

Ground faults can cause fires and are dangerous when they flow through a person to the ground.

Ground fault shocks can happen when a person comes into contact with the "hot" side of an

electrical circuit with wet hands or while standing in water or on a wet floor. GFCI’s protect

against ground faults by measuring the current on the electrical circuit; current in the hot and

neutral wires should be equal or close to equal. If a ground fault occurs, the GFCI outlet or GFCI

circuit breaker senses the change in current and trips, breaking the circuit and stopping the flow

of electricity. The GFCI does not protect workers from line contact hazards (i.e. a person holding

two "hot" wires, a hot and a neutral wire in each hand, or contacting an overhead power line).

Types

Different GFCI types are available for a variety of situations. GFCI circuit breakers snap into the

main electrical panel and provide ground fault protection on all outlets on that branch circuit.

GFCI wall receptacle outlets provide ground fault protection at that outlet and downstream.

Portable GFCI units such as receptacles, extension cords, and cord-connected devices contain

GFCI circuitry. Portable GFCI devices should only be used on a temporary basis and should be

tested prior to every use.

Inspections

GFCI’s have test and reset buttons for a reason; they must be tested regularly. For general use,

GFCI’s should be tested and inspected monthly. For construction site GFCI’s, a written

inspection plan should be in place and a competent person should conduct periodic tests and

visual inspections before each day’s use. Records of the testing must be kept.

GFCI Inspections should look for external defects such as deformed or missing pins, insulation

damage, and indications of internal damage. Damaged or defective equipment should not be used

until repaired. Additional inspections are required if an outlet is returned to service following

repairs and after any incident which can be reasonably suspected to have caused damage (for

example, when a cord set is run over).


Ground Fault Circuit Interrupters

Date: ___________________________ Presenter: _____________________________


Toolbox Talk

Guard Against Machine Injuries

Overview

Many injuries occur during equipment maintenance. Sometimes workers try to reach past the

guards while trying to service equipment or get caught in power transmissions such as belts,

pulleys, running rolls, chains or sprockets. Other injuries occur when equipment is unguarded or

when machinery starts unexpectedly due to lack of an energy control program.

Prevention

If some basic precautions are taken, protecting workers from these injuries can be simple, and

inexpensive. Inexpensive physical controls such as machine guards can prevent many injuries.

The important thing is that the guards remain in place. Bright, contrasting colors painted on

machine guards and points of operation give workers a visual warning and can make it easy to

spot missing guards. Good lighting also helps spot dangerous conditions or unguarded

machinery.

Regular maintenance by experienced workers can make a big difference in preventing equipment

jams and in. Employee should follow safe work practices around machinery and other electrical

equipment to reduce the risk of injury from being caught by or falling into machinery. The law

requires equipment to be turned off and locked out during any maintenance to prevent someone

from turning it on unexpectedly. Workers should recognize and understand the following when

working around machinery:

The location of machine guards and points of operation

The purpose of color-coded machinery alerting workers to hazards and to help pinpoint

missing guards

The danger of pinch points and importance of guards on in-running rolls, belts, pulleys,

chains, and sprockets

Know and follow established lockout/tagout procedures

Know when machines have been shut down for maintenance or to clear jams

Assure that machines remain off while they are shut down for maintenance

Know and observe electrical safety work practices developed by the company

Understand the importance of keeping machinery clean to prevent equipment jams

The surest way to safeguard worker hands and fingers is for everyone to stay alert when working

around machinery or moving equipment and to follow established company safety practices and

use common sense.


Guard Against Machine Injuries

Date: ___________________________ Presenter: _____________________________


Toolbox Talk

Hand and Power Tools for Construction - Overview

Overview of Topic From a simple screwdriver to a reciprocating cut-off saw, tools are the lifeblood of the

construction industry. No matter how simple or sophisticated, they all can be dangerous if not

used properly. The old saying, "the right tool for the job" hasn't changed. In this toolbox talk, we

will take a quick overview of OSHA requirements for tool control and safe use.

Condition of tools All hand and power tools and similar equipment, whether furnished by the employer or

employee, must be safe.

Guarding When power operated tools are designed to have guards, they must be equipped with the guards

when in use.

Personal protective equipment (PPE) Employees using hand or power tools must be provided with proper PPE for protection when

exposed to:

Falling, flying, abrasive, or splashing objects

Harmful dusts, fumes, mists, vapors, or gases.

All PPE must meet the requirements of and be maintained according to Subparts D-Occupational

Health and Environmental Controls, and E-Personal Protective and Life Saving Equipment.

Switches Switch action on power tools is important. For some tools a positive “on-off" control is fine,

others require momentary contact "on-off" control, and still others require a constant pressure

switch. Some examples are:

Positive "on-off" switch-hand-held platen sanders, grinders (2" dia. wheel or less),

routers, planers, shears, and scroll saws.

Momentary contact "on-off" control-hand-held drills, tappers, disc sanders, belt sanders,

reciprocating saws, saber saws, and other similar operating powered tools. The tool may

have a lock-on control provided that turnoff can be accomplished by a single motion of

the same finger or fingers that turn it on.

Constant pressure switch that will shut off the power when the pressure is released-all

other hand-held powered tools, such as circular saws, chain saws, and percussion tools

without positive accessory holding means.

Employee training The OSHA rules require the following training for employees using hand and power tools:

Only employees qualified by training or experience can operate equipment and

machinery (1926.20(b)(4)).

Employees must be trained to recognize and avoid unsafe conditions and the regulations

applicable to his work environment to control or eliminate the hazards (1926.21(b)(2)).

Employees required to use respiratory protective equipment approved for use in

atmospheres immediately dangerous to life must be thoroughly trained in its use.

Employees required to use other types of respiratory protective equipment must be

instructed in the use and limitations of such equipment (1926.103(c)(1)).


Hand and Power Tools for Construction - Overview

Date: ___________________________ Presenter: _____________________________


Toolbox Talk

Hand Protection

Overview

Next to our eyes, our hands are probably the most important part of our body when it comes to

doing our work. They’re involved in almost every thing we do. Yet many of the things we do

with our hands are done without any deliberate thought. Your hands have no fear. They’ll go

anyplace they’re sent and they only act as wisely as the person they belong to; so before you use

your hands think of their safekeeping.

The most common types of hand injuries and what you can do to prevent them are:

Traumatic injuries often occur from careless use of machinery or tools. Hands and

fingers get caught, pinched or crushed in chains, wheels, rollers, or gears. They are

punctured, torn or cut by spiked or jagged tools and edges that shear or chop. Safety

precautions should include using shields, guards, gloves, or safety locks; handling knives

or tools with care; and keeping hands, jewelry and clothing away from moving parts.

Contact injuries result from contact with solvents, acids, cleaning solutions, flammable

liquids and other substances that can cause burns or injure tissue. To protect against these

injuries, read the product labels, use the right glove or barrier cream, and wash hands

frequently. result from contact with solvents, acids, cleaning solutions, flammable liquids

and other substances that can cause burns or injure tissue. To protect against these

injuries, read the product labels, use the right glove or barrier cream, and wash hands

frequently.

Repetitive motion injuries happen when tasks require repeated, rapid hand movements

for long periods of time. Manufacturing, assembling, or computer work may lead to these

injuries. Change your grip, hand position, or motion. If possible, rotate tasks to give your

hands a rest.

Prevention

The following basic safety rules can prevent many hand injuries:

Recognize hazards.

Think through each job before you begin.

Follow safety rules.

Avoid shortcuts.

If an accident happens, seek prompt treatment.

Report injuries to your supervisor.


Hand Protection

Date: ___________________________ Presenter: _____________________________


Toolbox Talk

Hand Tool Safety

Overview

Construction workers routinely use hand tools and don’t think of them as dangerous, but

accidents continue to occur. Hand tools include hammers, screwdrivers, saws, wrenches, cutters,

tape measures, sledge hammers, chisels, punches, pipe wrenches, pliers, and planes, just to name

a few. Each tool is designed to do a specific task. The greatest hazards posed by a hand tool are

from their misuse or improper maintenance. It’s up to you to select the right tool for the job and

to use and care for it properly.

Hand tool safety begins by selecting the right tool for the task and using it the way it was

designed. Using the wrong tool for a job is likely to result in an accident. Before you start a job,

inspect the tool for defects. Check to be sure that the handle fits tightly into the head, especially

with a cutting tool such as an axe. Replace cracked, splintered or broken handles and worn jaws

on wrenches or pliers. Replace or repair broken tools and/or power cords. Keep tools clean, sharp

and in good condition so they’ll be ready for use the next time. When you’ve finished the job,

return tools to their proper storage position protected from unintended contact.

Prevention

If possible, choose tools designed to keep your wrist straight not bent. Pull on wrenches or pliers

don’t push on them and avoid applying excessive force. When using a cutting tool, hold its

handle firmly in the palm of your hand and cut away from your body never towards it. Carry

sharp tools away from your body, never in your pocket. Keep pointed or sharp tools away from

walkways where they could injure someone passing by.

Tools should never be tossed to another worker, surface or height; they should be handed

securely to another worker or placed directly on another surface or level. If working on a ladder

or scaffold, tools should be raised or lowered using a bucket and hand line. Never carry tools in a

way that may interfere with your using both hands on a ladder or climbing on a structure.

Remember to wear the proper personal protective equipment (PPE) when using certain tools.

Wear hearing protection when using power saws, drills or other noise-generating tools. If work

could possibly generate flying objects or dust, protect your eyes by wearing safety glasses with

side shields or safety goggles. When gloves are necessary, make sure they fit properly. Gloves

that are too loose, tight or bulky could contribute to hand fatigue or injury.

As the tool handler, think of your safety first (wear personal protective equipment, follow

manufactures safety recommendations, etc.), but also be aware of others around you when using

tool, so you don’t involve them in an accident.


Hand Tool Safety

Date: ___________________________ Presenter: _____________________________


Toolbox Talk

Hearing Protection Devices

Overview

Excessive exposure to noise in the work place could cause permanent hearing loss. In order to

protect our hearing, we should control noise exposures by wearing hearing protection in

designated areas.

Hearing protection devices such as earmuffs and earplugs can be an effective measure to protect

hearing in noisy work environments. However, hearing protection devices are only effective if

they are properly sized and carefully fitted into or over the ear. The two common categories of

hearing protection are earplugs and earmuffs.

Types

There are several common types of hearing protection devices:

Disposable earplugs made of expandable foam. One size fits most.

Pre-molded earplugs made from flexible plastics. Often sold in different sizes, they

should be selected to provide best fit for each ear.

Semi-aural devices, or canal caps, consisting of flexible tips on a lightweight headband.

They provide less protection than earplugs or earmuffs but may be good for intermittent

use.

Earmuffs having rigid cups with soft plastic cushions that seal around the ears.

The formable foam earplug must be narrowed and compressed by rolling before it is inserted into

the ear canal. Once inserted, the earplug expands to fill the ear canal and to reduce noise

transmission further into the ear. If it is inserted incorrectly, the foam earplug will provide much

less protection against noise.

To properly fit a formable foam earplug:

With clean hands, slowly roll and compress a foam earplug into a very thin cylinder.

Reach around the head with one hand to pull the top of the ear slightly outward and

upward while inserting an earplug into the ear canal with the other hand.

After insertion, hold foam earplugs in place with a fingertip for a few moments to ensure

that the plug expands in the ear canal without moving out of the ear. In a noisy

environment, the reduction in perceived sound level as the plug expands should be

noticeable.

To properly fit an earmuff:

Adjust the headband so that it sits comfortably on the head and so that the cushions exert

even pressure around the ears.

Pull hair back and out from beneath the cushions to ensure a proper seal.

Muffs should fully enclose the ears.


Hearing Protection Devices

Date: ___________________________ Presenter: _____________________________


Toolbox Talk

Preventing Heat Related Illnesses

Overview

When the body heats up faster than it can cool itself, heat related illnesses may develop. It’s

important to recognize the symptoms of heat-related illnesses and understand how to prevent,

control and respond to their effects.

Prevention

Air temperature, humidity and clothing can increase the risk of developing heat-related illnesses.

So can age, sex, weight, physical fitness, nutrition, alcohol or drug use, or pre-existing diseases

like diabetes. The following tips can help prevent heat related illnesses.

Drink water - Drink small amounts of water frequently, about a cup every 15-20 minutes.

Limit exposure time and/or temperature - Try to schedule hot jobs for cooler times of the

day or cooler seasons of the year. Take rest breaks in cool areas.

Acclimatization - Gradually adapting to heat will reduce the severity of heat stress.

Engineering controls - Mechanize heavy jobs or increase air movement with fans or

coolers.

Wearing loose, lightweight light colored clothing - Clothing can affect heat buildup. DO

NOT WORK WITH YOUR SHIRT OFF

Salt tablets should not be used - Taking salt tablets can raise blood pressure, cause

stomach ulcers, and seriously affect workers with heart disease.

Symptoms

Someone with a mild reaction to heat may have a rash called "prickly heat" or painful muscle

spasms, called heat cramps, during or after activity. A mild reaction may also include fatigue or

dizziness. You may notice a change in physical or mental performance and an increase in

accidents. A person with a moderate reaction or heat exhaustion, will have some or all of the

following symptoms: excessive sweating, cold, moist, pale or flushed skin, thirst, extreme

weakness or fatigue, headache, nausea, lack of appetite, rapid weak pulse, or giddiness and if not

properly treated, the victim may collapse.

Anyone with mild or moderate symptoms should be moved to a cool, shaded place with

circulating air. They should lie down and, if conscious, be given small sips of cool water at

frequent intervals. If symptoms continue, a doctor should be called.

In severe cases of heat illness, a heat stroke may result. The victim’s face is flushed red and their

skin is hot and dry with no sweating. They develop a severe headache with deep, rapid breathing.

They have a very high fever and may become delirious. They may become unconscious, have

convulsions, or lapse into a coma. This condition is fatal unless emergency medical treatment is

obtained. Immediately call for medical help. In the meantime, get them out of the hot

environment. Loosen clothing and pour water over the entire body. Get air to circulate around

the body.

Recognizing the warning signs and symptoms of heat-related illnesses and using preventive and

control measures can reduce the frequency and severity of heat illness while increasing worker

productivity.


Preventing Heat Related Illnesses

Date: ___________________________ Presenter: _____________________________


Toolbox Talk

Hazardous Chemical Warning Labels

Overview

All hazardous chemicals shipped after June 1, 2015, must be labeled with specified elements

including pictograms, signal words and hazard and precautionary statements. However,

manufacturers, importers, and distributors may start using the new labeling system in the revised

HCS before the June 1, 2015 effective date if they so choose. Until the June 1, 2015 effective

date, manufacturers, importers and distributors may maintain compliance with the requirements

of HazCom 1994 or the revised standard. Distributors may continue to ship containers labeled by

manufacturers or importers (but not by the distributor themselves) in compliance with the

HazCom 1994 until December 1, 2015

Labels, as defined in the HCS, are an appropriate group of written, printed or graphic

informational elements concerning a hazardous chemical that are affixed to, printed on, or

attached to the immediate container of a hazardous chemical, or to the outside packaging

The label will the hazardous chemical will contain: Name, Address, Telephone Number, Product

Identifier, Signal Word, Hazard Statement, Precautionary Statement, and Pictograms.

Precautionary statements tell you how to store and dispose of the material properly. The label

may indicate precautions to take, such as how to clean up, what personal protective equipment to

use, and how to handle a spill of the chemical. First aid instructions may include antidotes for

poisons and what steps to take when someone is exposed to the chemical.

Always read the label before you begin a job using a potentially hazardous chemical. Although

you may have used the same chemical many times, the manufacturer may have changed the

formula or the concentration. Avoid identifying chemicals by the label’s color or design. If the

label raises any questions in your mind about the chemical, read the SDS or discuss it with your

supervisor.

If you transfer a hazardous chemical from the original container to a second container, and you

will not use the material by the end of the workday, you will need to label the secondary

container. The minimum information required is the identity of the hazardous chemical and

appropriate hazard warnings.


Hazardous Chemical Warning Labels

Date: ___________________________ Presenter: _____________________________


Toolbox Talk

Ladder Safety

Overview

Ladders are handy, simple tools to use, but if they are not maintained properly, they can be

unsafe. Falls are the third leading cause of worker deaths. Half of these injuries and deaths

involved a ladder. Ladder accidents can occur if they are faulty, if they have been set up

improperly, and if they are used improperly.

Workers must be familiar with the rules for safe ladder setup and uses, it is important to know

how to inspect, maintain, and store ladders used in the workplace. The materials that go into

ladders are designed and engineered to last indefinitely if they are cared for properly. Proper

maintenance, care, and an inspection checklist can guard workers against using a faulty ladder.

Inspections

Neglected ladders can become unsafe ladders, so workers should inspect them frequently. Before

using a ladder, make sure it is in good working condition. If an inspection shows defects in a

ladder, it should be immediately tagged out of service. Broken or damaged ladders should be

properly repaired by a qualified worker or they should be discarded and replaced.

A ladder inspection begins from the top down. Workers should look for loose steps and rungs.

The rungs should be sturdy, clean, and not slippery from grease or oil. The upright ladder legs

should be strong and free of cracks, splits, and bent edges. The ladder's braces should be solid.

Nails, screws, bolts or other fasteners should be tight. Finally, the ladder feet should be examined

and the non-slip base should be in good repair.

Different ladder types and materials have specific inspection points. Wood ladders should never

be painted and should not have cracks or splits. Metal and fiberglass ladders should be checked

for bends and breaks. Metal ladders should be inspected for signs of corrosion. Step ladders

should not be wobbly, a possible indication of side strain, and the hinges should be firm and

straight. Extension ladders should have working extension locks that seat properly. The

extension rope should not be rotted or frayed.

Workers should try to prevent ladder damage during transport and use because this can weaken

the ladder. When hauling a ladder, workers should tie it securely to the vehicle to prevent nicks,

gouges, or chafing. Damaged bolts and joints can work loose and eventually cause the ladder to

twist and become unstable. Straight ladders should be stored flat or on wall brackets to prevent

sagging or warping. Step ladders should be stored upright and in the closed position. All ladders

should be stored in covered, protected areas away from moisture sources.


Ladder Safety

Date: ___________________________ Presenter: _____________________________


Toolbox Talk

Landscaping Safety

Landscapers work outdoors to maintain and beautify the scenery. Their work involves tasks that

could prove hazardous: electric and gas power tools, ladders, mowers, noise, sun, and weather

exposure. It is prudent for landscapers to cultivate safety while they plant and prune the pansies

Landscapers use powered equipment such as trimmers, mowers, and chain saws to trim and

prune grass and plants. Inspect these tools each time you use them to ensure that they are in

proper working order. When using flammable fuels, ensure that the storage containers are

approved for flammable liquids. Practice safe handling by limiting container sizes to 5 gallons,

don’t transport fuels in multiple passenger vehicles, and never smoke while you are fueling. Use

Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter (GFCI) cords or outlets to minimize the risk of shock from

electric equipment.

Use caution around pesticides and chemicals; read the Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS) and

follow the manufacturer’s use guidelines. A chemical resistant suit and gloves protect your skin

and clothing from exposure. Practice good hygiene by hand washing and changing out of

contaminated clothing before you leave work. Wash contaminated clothing separately from the

rest of your laundry. Never eat or drink while working with these chemicals.

Dress the part. Wear close-fitting layers of clothing to protect yourself from the weather and also

from entanglement in machinery. Long sleeves, long pants, and light colors protect you from the

sun, insects, and plant irritants and allergens. Sunscreen, a hat, and fluids protect you from

sunburn and heat stress. Wear non-slip, sturdy work boots with reinforced toes to protect your

feet and sturdy work gloves to protect your hands.

Wear the appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE) for your job task. Safety glasses

should be used to protect your eyes from flying debris; wear goggles when working with

chemicals. Hearing protection like ear plugs and/or ear muffs protects your hearing around loud

equipment. A respirator or dust mask protects your respiratory system from irritating chemical

fumes and dust. Gauntlets and chaps can protect the arms and legs when working with thorny

vegetation or chain saws.

Use safe work techniques. Practice ladder safety when you have to work at heights. Always

inspect your ladder before use and properly position it to easily and comfortably complete the

job task without reaching or twisting. Remain aware of electrical lines that may be near your

work zone. Maintain neutral postures while you work. To prevent ergonomic injuries avoid

extreme reaches and awkward movements. Learn and practice safe lifting techniques to avoid a

back strain or injury. Use ergonomic tools and lifting/moving devices whenever possible.


Landscaping Safety

Date: ___________________________ Presenter: _____________________________


Toolbox Talk

Lead Exposure for Construction

Overview of Topic

Lead has been poisoning workers for thousands of years. In the construction industry, most over-

exposures to lead have been found in the plumbing, welding, and painting trades.

Significant lead exposures can also arise from removing paint from surfaces previously coated with lead-

based paint, such as in bridge repair, residential renovation, and demolition. With the increase in highway

work, including bridge repair, residential lead abatement and residential remodeling, the potential for

exposure to lead-based paint has become more common.

Operations that generate lead dust and fume include: flame-torch cutting; welding; the use of torches and

heat guns; sanding, scraping, and grinding of lead painted surfaces in repair, reconstruction, dismantling,

and demolition work; and abrasive blasting of bridges and other structures containing lead-based paints.

In recent years, there have been many restrictions placed on products containing lead. However, since

lead-based paint inhibits the rusting and corrosion of iron and steel, it is still used on bridges, railways,

ships, lighthouses, and other steel structures.

If your company is involved in activity that may, or does, generate lead dust, fume, etc., you are

responsible for the development and implementation of a worker protection program. The program must

follow the requirements of OSHA's lead standard at 29 CFR 1926.62. This program is essential in

minimizing worker risk of lead exposure.

OSHA's lead standard for construction limits employee exposure to 50?g/m3 (micrograms of lead per

cubic meter of air) averaged over an eight-hour workday. This is known as the permissible exposure limit

(PEL). At an action level of 30?g/m3, averaged over an eight-hour workday, you must begin certain

compliance activities outlined in the regulation.

The most effective way to protect your workers is to minimize exposure through the use of engineering

controls and good work practices. It is OSHA policy that respirators are not to be used instead of

engineering and work practices to reduce employee exposures to below the PEL. Respirators are to be

used only after all available means have been taken to reduce exposure to below the PEL.

At the minimum, the following elements should be included in your worker protection program for

employees exposed to lead:

Hazard determination, including exposure assessment.

Engineering and work practice controls.

Respiratory protection.

Protective clothing and equipment.

Housekeeping.

Hygiene facilities and practices.

Medical surveillance and provisions for medical removal.

Training.

Signs.

Recordkeeping.

To implement the worker protection program properly, you need to designate a competent person, i.e.,

one who is capable of identifying existing and predictable hazards or working conditions which are

hazardous or dangerous to employees, in accordance with the general safety and health provisions of

OSHA's construction standards. The competent person must have the authority to take prompt corrective

measures to eliminate such problems.

Qualified medical personnel must be available to advise you and your employees on the health effects of

employee lead exposure, and supervise the medical surveillance program.


Lead Exposure for Construction

Date: ___________________________ Presenter: _____________________________


Toolbox Talk

Lead Exposure for Construction - An Overview Lead (Pb) is a basic heavy metal which can threaten the health of workers in many construction trades

like welding, electricity, carpentry, painting, plumbing, and heating/air-conditioning. The object of the

OSHA regulation, 29 CFR 1926.62, is to prevent absorption of harmful quantities of lead and protect

construction workers from the toxic effects of lead.

Lead exposure and how it affects the body

When absorbed into the body by inhalation and ingestion in certain doses, lead is a toxic substance. Most

lead is NOT absorbed through the skin; however, certain organic lead compounds, such as tetraethyl lead,

are absorbed this way. Once lead is absorbed, most of it is circulated throughout the body and stored in

various organs and tissues. Some is excreted with body waste, but some remains in the body. As exposure

continues, lead stored in the body increases. The effects include serious complication, including death.

Lead exposure limits

OSHA limits the concentration of lead in work area air to 50 micrograms per cubic meter for an 8-hour

workday. This is the permissible exposure limit (PEL). OSHA has also specified an action level to 30

micrograms per cubic meter for an 8-hour workday, without regard to respirators.

Worker protective measures

Exposure monitoring - If lead is present, make determinations whether the action level is

reached/exceeded. If exposures are above the action level, collect samples representing regular, daily

exposure.

Engineering controls & good work practices including administrative controls - For exposure beyond

the PEL, use engineering controls (i.e., HEPA vacuum, exhaust ventilation, roll/brush paint not spray,

distancing workers, encapsulation of lead surfaces) and good work practices (i.e., proper clothing,

personal protective equipment (PPE), housekeeping, and hygiene).

Respiratory protection - Used in combination with engineering controls and good work practices. Don &

doff respirators outside of the lead exposure area. Provide fit testing.

Medical surveillance - Provide initial and annual surveillance. For exposure at or above the action level

more than 30 days annually and blood levels above 40 g/ dl, full medical surveillance is required. If blood

lead level is at or above 50 g/deciliter, temporarily remove the worker.

Training - Provide annual training for employees at or above the action level on any day or those that

may suffer skin or eye irritation from lead.

Signs - If PEL exceeded, post, 'WARNING - LEAD WORK AREA - POISON - NO SMOKING OR

EATING.'


Lead Exposure for Construction - An Overview

Date: ___________________________ Presenter: _____________________________


Toolbox Talk

Lead Exposure for Construction - Engineering Controls

Overview of Topic

Engineering controls and good work practices are the major defense against employee exposure to lead.

At a minimum, lead exposure must not exceed the OSHA permissible exposure limit (PEL) of 50

micrograms per cubic meter averaged over 8-hours.

When feasible engineering controls and work practices cannot reduce worker exposure at or below the

PEL, respirators must be used to supplement the engineering controls and work practices.

Competent person

Your 'lead' competent person should review site operations and plan specific controls and work practices

designed to reduce worker exposure to lead.

Engineering controls

Engineering controls reduce employee exposure either by removing or isolating the hazard or isolating the

worker from exposure through the use of technology. Engineering controls include:

Exhaust ventilation such as dust collection shrouds exhausted through a high-efficiency

particulate air (HEPA) vacuum system. Welding, cutting/burning, and heating should have local

ventilation.

o For abrasive blasting with full containment, the containment structure should be designed

to optimize ventilation flow thereby reducing the lead concentration and improving

visibility. The containment area must be under negative pressure to reduce lead dust

escape.

o As necessary, you must evaluate the mechanical performance of your system in

controlling exposure.

Enclosure/encapsulation is an engineering alternative. Lead-based paint can be made inaccessible

by: (1) encapsulation using a material that will bond to the surface such as an acrylic or epoxy

coating, (2) enclosing the paint using materials such as gypsum wallboard, plywood paneling, or

vinyl exterior siding, and (3) covering floors coated with lead-based paint using vinyl tile or

linoleum flooring.

Material substitution can include:

o using primers that contain zinc.

o using mobile hydraulic shears instead of torch cutting.

o using surface preparation equipment, such as needle guns with multiple reciprocating

needles completely enclosed within an adjustable shroud. This can substitute for abrasive

blasting.

o using chemical strippers instead of hand scraping using a heat gun. Chemical strippers

generate less airborne lead dust.

Component replacement is a permanent solution, i.e., replacing lead-based painted windows,

doors, and trim with new lead-free components.

Process/equipment modification could include:

o brush or roller application of lead paints instead of spraying.

o hydro- or wet-blasting and vacuum blasting (blasting techniques that are less dusty than

abrasive blasting).

o using proper vacuum brushes of various sizes, crevice and angular tools to enhance the

quality of the HEPA-vacuuming process.

Isolation helps reduce the potential for exposure to lead. Keeping employees not involved in the

operations as far away as possible reduces their exposures to lead.


Lead Exposure for Construction - Engineering Controls

Date: ___________________________ Presenter: _____________________________


Toolbox Talk

Lead Exposure for Construction – Lead Operations Overview

Pure lead (Pb) is a heavy metal. It can combine with various other substances to form numerous lead

compounds. When absorbed into the body in certain doses lead is toxic. It can be absorbed by inhalation

and ingestion. A significant portion of the lead inhaled or ingested gets into the blood stream and is

eventually stored in various organs and body tissues. As exposure continues, and if not filtered by the

body and excreted, lead is stored in increasing amounts causing irreversible damage to body cells, organs,

and whole body systems. Long term (chronic) overexposure to lead may result in severe damage to the

blood-forming, nervous, urinary, and reproductive systems.

OSHA's lead standard

OSHA's 1993 interim lead standard for construction workers reduced the permissible exposure limit

(PEL) from 200 micrograms per cubic meter of air as an 8-hour time weighted average (TWA) to 50

micrograms per cubic meter.

An action level is set at 30 micrograms per cubic meter calculated as an 8-hour TWA. The action level is

the level at which you must begin certain compliance activities outlined in the standard.

Who does the standard apply to?

The rule applies to all construction work where an employee may be exposed to: lead, all inorganic lead

compounds, and organic lead soaps.

Some operations that generate lead dust and fume include:

Flame-torch cutting, welding, the use of heat guns, sanding, scraping, and grinding of lead

painted surfaces in repair, reconstruction, dismantling, and demolition work.

Abrasive blasting of bridges and other structures containing lead-based paints.

Use of torches and heat guns, sanding, scraping, and grinding lead-based paint surfaces during

remodeling or abating lead-based paint.

Maintaining process equipment or exhaust duct work.

Worker protection program

Employers must develop and implement a worker protection program. The program is essential in

minimizing worker risk of lead exposure. Some projects, such as the removal of paint from a few interior

residential doors, involve limited exposure. Others may involve the removal, or stripping off, of

substantial quantities of lead-based paints on large bridges.

Engineering controls and good work practices are the most effective way to minimize exposure to your

employees. Respirators cannot be used instead of engineering and work practices but must be used in

conjunction with them to control employee exposures.

At a minimum, the following elements should be included in your worker protection program:

hazard determination, including

exposure assessment.

engineering and work practice controls.

protective clothing and equipment.

housekeeping.

hygiene facilities and practices.

medical surveillance and provisions for

medical removal,.

training.

signs.

recordkeeping.


Lead Exposure for Construction – Lead Operations Overview

Date: ___________________________ Presenter: _____________________________


Toolbox Talk

Lifting Techniques - Prevent Back Pain

Overview of topic

Although back problems are among the most common types of pain and disability, most of these

problems are completely preventable through the use of proper lifting techniques.

There are a wide variety of injuries that can happen to the back. Some injuries are serious enough

to require surgery. Some injuries lead to permanent disability. Any back injury can limit all of

your activities, both on and off of the job. By using the correct lifting posture, you can avoid

back injury.

The basic rules of good lifting are:

Size up the load before you lift. Test by lifting one of the corners or pushing. If it's heavy

or feels too clumsy, get a mechanical aid or help from another worker. When in doubt,

don't lift alone.

Bend the knees. Note that this item is the single, most important aspect of lifting.

Place your feet close to the object and center yourself over the load.

Get a good hand hold.

Lift straight up, smoothly, and let your legs do the work, not your back.

Do not twist or turn your body once you have made the lift.

Make sure beforehand that you have a clear path to carry the load.

Set the load down properly.

Always push, not pull, the object when it's on a cart or dolly.

If it's a long load, get some help.

Split the load into several smaller ones when you can.

Discuss other factors that affect the back, including:

Aging.

Proper postures for sleeping, standing, and sitting. Sleep on your side with your knees

bent or on your back. Sit with your knees slightly higher than your hips with your hips

located near the rear of the chair. Stand with the shoulders back with the spine's "S curve"

centered over the pelvis.

Physical condition. Extra weight means extra strain on the back. Stress can also play a

part in muscle spasms. It is important to take time to relax.

Repetitive motion can contribute to back problems.

Employee training

OSHA has not developed any training requirements for proper lifting techniques.

Training tips

List the jobs or duties workers might perform at your company where lifting hazards exist.

You may want to go into your organization's policy on reporting back pain and your

organization's treatment recommendations. If you have specific policy on back pain or injury,

present it in detail to your employees.

If your organization has specific ergonomic practices or aids, explain and demonstrate their use.


Lifting Techniques - Prevent Back Pain

Date: ___________________________ Presenter: _____________________________


Toolbox Talk

Lockout/Tagout - An Overview

Overview of Topic

OSHA statistics show that six percent of all deaths in the workplace result from the unexpected activation

of a machine or other piece of equipment during maintenance or other servicing. In addition, more than

25,000 work days are lost each year because of injuries in similar situations. Because of the increase of

injuries related to the unexpected activation of machinery, OSHA developed the Lockout/Tagout

regulation. This regulation, 29 CFR 1910.147, requires employers to develop procedures for isolating

energy sources when servicing or maintaining their equipment and machinery. The purpose of the

standard is to prevent injuries from unexpected start-up or the release of energy.

Lockout/tagout is a warning and prevention system for unexpected start-up and release of stored energy.

Two terms which directly relate to this system are:

Lockout - The placement of a device that blocks the flow of energy from a power source to a

piece of equipment.

Tagout - The process of attaching a tag to a disconnect switch or other energy isolating device to

warn others not to restore energy to the tagged equipment.

When performing lockout/tagout on equipment and machines, the operators and the people working in the

area need to be informed that lockout/tagout is being applied and servicing is being done on the

equipment and machines.

Who is affected?

Lockout/tagout involves three types of employees with different levels of responsibility; authorized,

affected, and other.

Authorized - Employees who perform the servicing, maintenance, and set-up of equipment or

machinery and apply the locks and tags to this equipment.

Affected - Employees who operate or use the equipment or machines which are locked/ tagged

out when serviced, maintained, or set-up.

Other - Employees who are neither affected nor authorized employees.

Lockout devices must:

be durable and substantial.

identify the person who applied it.

should only be removed by the person who applied it.

Employee Training

OSHA regulations say that employees should be trained in the requirements of lockout/ tagout if they will

be affected. They should be instructed ‘in the purpose and use of the energy control procedure.’


Lockout/Tagout - An Overview

Date: ___________________________ Presenter: _____________________________


Toolbox Talk

Machine Safety

Overview

Machines are one of the leading causes of occupational injury. These injuries typically result

because of inadequate training or careless/ complacent operating. Therefore only trained and

authorized employees are permitted to operate machinery.

Prevention

Before you turn on any machine, know the hazards and make a safety check. Is everybody clear?

Are the guards and safety devices in place and properly adjusted? Don’t start the machine unless

they are. Never tie down or block a guard or safety device. Safety features are there to protect

you and always follow established lockout/tagout procedures.

Maintain good housekeeping at the machine center. If you have to clear an object from a running

machine, follow established safety procedures. Never use your hands! Don’t try to slow down a

moving part with your hand or makeshift device, let the machine stop completely, by itself. And

never walk off and leave a machine running and unattended.

Clothing

The right work clothes can help you stay safe and comfortable on the job. Wear tucked in short-

sleeved shirts and cuffless pants. Long sleeves, neckties, scarves, gloves, or jewelry can get

caught in moving parts. Wear eye protection where required and keep long hair covered (i.e.-

tucked in to your shirt) and away from moving parts.

Machine safety requires a combination of proper training, safeguards, good judgment, and

concentration. Machines have hazards which can’t be completely eliminated. Even simple

machines can pinch, cut, or crush. To avoid injury, follow procedures and be on your guard.

Allowing yourself to become distracted, even for a second, can have serious consequences for

you or the people you work with.


Machine Safety

Date: ___________________________ Presenter: _____________________________


Toolbox Talk

Safety Data Sheets

What is a Safety Data Sheet (SDS)?

Chemical manufacturers are required to produce Safety Data Sheets (SDS) for all chemicals produced.

“Safety Data Sheets”, previously referred to as “Material Safety Data Sheets” (MSDS), communicate

important information regarding the hazards of chemical products. As of June 1, 2015, OSHA’s Hazard

Communication Standard will require new SDS to be in a uniform format, and include the section

numbers, headings, and associated information addressed below

What is the purpose of an SDS?

The purpose of an SDS is to inform you of:

The material’s chemical make-up.

The material’s physical properties or fast acting health effects that make it dangerous to

handle.

The level of protective gear you need to wear to work safely with the material.

The first aid treatment to be provided when someone is exposed to the material.

The preplanning needed for safely handling spills, fires, and day-to-day operations.

How to respond to accidents.

What information is on the SDS?

There are 16 categories of information that must be present on an SDS. These are:

Chemical Identification, Hazard Identification, Composition, First Aid, Fire Fighting Measures,

Accidental Release Measures, Handling and Storage, Exposure controls/personal protection,

Threshold Limit Values (TLVs), Physical and Chemical Properties, Stability and Reactivity,

Toxicological Information, Ecological Information, Disposal Information, Transportation

Information, Regulatory Information, and Other Information (dates of last revision)

Who uses SDSs?

Industrial hygienists, chemical engineers, safety professionals, employers, employees,

emergency responders and anyone else requiring information on a material.

When would I use an SDS?

You should always know the hazards of a material before you start using it. For most people who

work with a material, there are sections of the SDS that are more important than others. You

should always read the name of the material, know the hazards, understand the safe handling and

storage requirements, and understand what to do in an emergency.


Safety Data Sheets

Date: ___________________________ Presenter: _____________________________


Toolbox Talk

Personal Protective Equipment

Overview

One way to prevent injury at work is to wear proper personal protective equipment (PPE). Some

protective equipment is necessary for specific jobs, while other items are necessary for any work.

Employee should know the hazards they face on the job, then provide the proper equipment to

protect against those hazards. It’s important that know how to use and care for the equipment so

it will provide maximum protection.

Types of PPE

Hard hats should be worn by all workers where there is a danger of flying, falling, and moving

objects or when bump hazards are present.

Work boots with toe caps to protect the feet of the worker who handles heavy loads or who

works around moving equipment. Rubber boots with hard toes and puncture-proof inner soles

protect the feet and legs of those who work with wet concrete. Kneepads protect cement finishers

and others who work on their knees for long periods.

Eyes can be damaged from chemical splashes, dust or flying particles. Protect eyes by wearing

approved goggles or face shields. The eye protection should indicate that it is ANSI Z 87 rated.

Eye protection is required when working around chemicals, while cutting material, when using

power equipment and when spraying or sanding.

Respirators are necessary for some jobs to prevent noise and throat irritation or to prevent

ingesting dangerous chemicals or vapors. The type of respirator to use depends on the nature of

the work. Respirators should be worn when there will be a lot of dust, vapors or gases emitted

into the air.

Even if the job will only take a few minutes, that’s all it would take for a chemical or fragment to

fly into an unprotected eye or a heavy object to fall on an unprotected head or foot. Wearing

appropriate personal protective gear will greatly lessen a worker’s chance of injury on the job.


Personal Protective Equipment

Date: ___________________________ Presenter: _____________________________


Toolbox Talk Rigging Equipment Toolbox Talk

Inspection before use requirements

Your competent person must visually inspect all slings, fastenings, and attachments, for damage or

defects:

Prior to use on each shift.

As necessary during operations to ensure continued integrity of the sling, especially if the sling is

subjected to heavy stresses.

Damaged or defective slings must be immediately removed from service.

Use requirements

Rigging equipment must never be loaded in excess of its recommended safe working load. Safe working

load charts are available in the construction regulations (1926.251, Tables H- 1 through H-20) for each

type of sling. Slings, when not in use, should be removed from the immediate work area so as: (1) not to

be a trip or swinging hazard, and (2) to protect the sling from jobsite hazards such as dirt, oil, grease, and

not being walked on or run over by construction traffic. Custom lifting equipment (grabs, hooks, clamps,

etc.) designed for specific functions such as lifting modular panels, prefabricated structures, and similar

materials, must be marked to indicate its safe working loads. Such equipment must be proof-tested prior

to use to 125 percent of its rated load.

General industry rules that apply to construction

OSHA has determined that the following general industry rules (1910.184) also apply to construction

applications.

Slings must not be shortened with knots or bolts or other makeshift devices.

Sling legs that have been kinked must not be used.

Slings used in a basket hitch must have the loads balanced to prevent slippage.

Slings must be padded or protected from load sharp edges.

Hands or fingers must not be placed between the sling and its load while the sling is being

tightened around the load.

Other safety rules

Suspended loads must be kept clear of all obstructions.

Crane operators should avoid sudden starts and stops when moving suspended loads.

Employees must remain clear of loads about to be lifted and suspended. Tag lines should be used

when appropriate.

All shock loading is prohibited.

Specific sling application

The rest of the applicable regulations for each sling type are found at 29 CFR 1926.251(b) for alloy steel

chains; .251(c) for wire rope; .251(d) for natural rope, and synthetic fiber; .251(e) for synthetic webbing

(nylon, polyester, and polypropylene); and .251(f) for shackles and hooks.

Toolbox Talk Attendance Record Rigging Equipment Toolbox Talk

Date: ___________________________ Presenter: _____________________________


Toolbox Talk

Roofing Safety

Overview

Worker safety is important on any construction job. Working on roofs is no exception. Falls

account for more serious injuries and deaths in construction than other type of injury. Accidents

occur not only to those building roofs, but also people maintaining, cleaning, demolishing and

inspecting roofs. Any work on a roof is a risk. The nature of the precautions needed to work safe

may vary from one job to another, but not providing safeguards is not acceptable.

The following are items that increase the likelihood of falls during roof work.

Pitch of the roof – the steeper the pitch, the more difficult it is to maintain your footing.

Moisture – rain, snow or frost may cause slippery conditions on the roof.

Dirt or Sawdust – may cause slippery conditions on the roof.

Footwear – the traction of shoes/boots varies, always wear good traction shoes/boots.

Tripping hazards – tools, electric cords, etc. can create a tripping hazard.

Considerations for roof work

Perform a risk assessment – identify the risks that will be encountered before performing

the specific tasks required for the job.

Getting on and off the roof – this is a major risk point, a secure way to enter and exit the

roof is essential.

Fall arrest system – a fall arrest system is required if a worker may fall from an elevated

position. As a general rule, the fall arrest system should be used if the working height is

greater than six feet.

Falling Material – maintain good housekeeping on the roof to stop material that could

fall.

Training – all workers should receive training on fall hazards and prevention.

Weather conditions – work should not occur during icy, rainy, or windy conditions. You

can easily be blown off a roof when carrying roofing materials.

Ladders and scaffolding – make sure they are structurally sound and installed properly.

Safe Work Practices

Keep your center of gravity low and over your feet.

Keep your knees bent and be aware of things around you.

Don’t carry too much or have your hands too full.

Don’t drop things or let them roll off the roof.

Go up and down ladders facing the ladder.


Roofing Safety

Date: ___________________________ Presenter: _____________________________


Toolbox Talk

Reducing Exposure to Silica

Overview

More than 1 million U.S. workers are exposed to crystalline silica (free silica). Overexposure to

crystalline silica can cause silicosis, a disabling lung disease. Sand, rock, and soil are the most common

materials that contain silica. The most common form of crystalline silica is known as quartz. Inhalation of

airborne dusts that contain crystalline silica can occur in a wide variety of settings: mining, quarrying, and

stone cutting; foundry operations; paint-blasting and sand-blasting; glass manufacturing and etching; and

in some types of construction work. When might you expect silica exposure?

During work with dry sand, quartz, or clay that contains silica

During demolition of concrete, brick, and mortar

During drilling of quartz-containing rock, clay, or sandy soil

During dry sweeping of concrete, rock, clay, or sand dust

Exposure

Inhalation of crystalline silica can lead to chronic or accelerated silicosis. Chronic silicosis, the most

common form of the disease, usually occurs after 10 or more years of overexposure. As silicosis

progresses, symptoms appear such as severe cough and shortness of breath following physical exertion.

Without adequate dust controls, workers may develop accelerated silicosis, which results from very high

silica exposures and develops over a period of only 5-10 years.

Prevention

There are many things that employers and workers can do to help prevent silicosis, including:

Control overall dust exposures by minimizing the dust around work areas.

Substitute less hazardous abrasive-blasting materials for those containing crystalline silica.

Install engineering controls (local exhaust ventilation) and containment methods (blast-cleaning

machines and cabinets) to prevent dust from being released into the air.

Train workers about health effects of silica dust and good work practices that reduce dust.

Wet down surfaces before clean-up.

Use vacuums with high-efficiency particulate air filters or wet-sweeping for clean-up.

Never dry sweep or blow dust with compressed air.

Wear respirators, where necessary, to avoid breathing dusts.

Be aware that the highest silica concentrations may occur inside enclosed areas during tasks such

as concrete or masonry sawing or abrasive blasting. Wear air-supplied respirators under high dust

conditions.

Shower or wash up and change into clean clothes before leaving the worksite.

The keys to preventing silicosis are to minimize the amount of silica-containing dust in the air and to

avoid breathing silica-containing dust. There is no cure for the disease once it develops, but it is 100

percent preventable if employers and workers work together to minimize exposures.


Reducing Exposure to Silica

Date: ___________________________ Presenter: _____________________________


Toolbox Talk

Saw Safety

Overview

Know your power saw read the safety instructions and owner's manual carefully. Learn the

applications and limitations, as well as the specific potential hazards peculiar to the tool. Ensure

the tool is grounded all tools, unless they are double insulated. If the tool is equipped with a

three-prong plug, it should be plug, into a three-hole receptacle. Never remove the third prong.

Keep guards in place and in working order. Avoid dangerous environments and don't use the saw

in wet locations. Make sure you have adequate light to work-in. Safety and efficiency go hand in

hand. A power saw in good condition, with a sharp blade, is not only safer but does a fast, and

better job. Choose the right saw for the work you're doing -- if in doubt, check with you

supervisor.

If you're using a table saw, make sure the saw and motor frame are properly grounded and

guarded. Keep your body out of line with the lumber being sawed. Use a pusher stick when

feeding lumber near the blade. Use a brush to remove scrap from the table, not your hands. Shut

off the power while adjusting the saw hood or gauge. Lock power controls in the off position

(and where possible, unplug the electric cord) before changing saw blades. Be sure there is no

play in the arbor.

As with any other operation, get help when sawing long material. Always keep the area around

the saw free of loose material that can cause tripping. Wear proper apparel, no loose clothing or

jewelry to get caught in moving parts. Wear suitable eye protection when using power saws.

Safety glasses are a must -- a stray splinter or wood chip can cause injury or even the loss an eye.

Finally, never force a power saw always use the right size tool for the job. Don't abuse the cord

never carry the saw by the cord or yank it to disconnect from the receptacle. Avoid accidental

starting don't carry a plugged in power saw with your finger on the switch.


Saw Safety

Date: ___________________________ Presenter: _____________________________


Toolbox Talk

Scaffolding Safety

Overview

Scaffolding allows workers to do their jobs at elevated heights. Scaffolding includes suspended systems

from buildings, supported systems from the ground, and aerial systems on mobile equipment. If not

properly trained, those who work on scaffolding systems are at risk for falls or falling objects which could

cause serious or even fatal injuries.

Prevention

To prevent falls, scaffolding equipment should be properly installed and operated. A “qualified person”

should study the load, bracing, and safety code requirements for each job site. Properly designed

scaffolding systems have work levels that are decked with regulation-sized planks and have appropriate

worker access. Depending on the height of the scaffold, fall protection can include safety harnesses,

guardrails or toe boards.

A “competent person” as described by OSHA, should inspect the scaffolding before each use to see that it

is in good condition and operable. Scaffolding should be plumb and level and in firm contact with a stable

surface. The scaffolding should be sturdy with all nuts and bolts tightened. Damaged or improperly

constructed equipment should not be used. To avoid electrocution hazards, power lines should be at least

12 feet away the scaffold.

Before a scaffold job begins, all workers should receive training on that particular scaffolding system.

Workers should only climb the scaffolding from designated areas on the structure or on properly installed

ladders. Workers should practice good climbing techniques including facing the rungs when climbing up

or down; using tool belts or approved hoists to carry materials up to the jobsite and thus allow the use of

both hands; and establishing solid footing and balance before climbing the structure.

Workers must practice safe behaviors on scaffolding at all times. Only one person should stand on an

individual plank at a time. Materials should not be hoisted or placed on cantilevered platforms unless they

are designed for it. Bridges between scaffold towers should not be constructed unless a “qualified person”

designed them. Workers should also be aware of activities taking place overhead and try to keep tools

away from the edges of the scaffold and platform openings so they don’t drop on workers below.

If workers have received proper training and education in scaffold systems, fall protection equipment, and

proper scaffold work practices, they can work safely and feel safe at elevated heights.


Scaffolding Safety

Date: ___________________________ Presenter: _____________________________


Toolbox Talk

Slips, Trips and Falls

Overview

Slips and falls are a leading cause of workplace injuries. What do experts recommend as the

single most important step to take in preventing slips and falls? Simple...keep floors clean, dry,

and free of obstruction. When it comes to safeguards against slips and falls, nothing is more

important than good housekeeping.

Prevention

When you walk through a work area, look for spills, grease spots or dust (i.e. -machine

byproducts). Water spilled by drinking fountains or tracked in on wet or snowy days can create a

major hazard. Look around and be aware of wet areas or objects on the floor. Then take the time

to do something about it. Clean up the hazard or place cones or hazard signs nearby, warning of

the danger. People can walk on extremely slippery surfaces by modifying their speed and stride,

provided they know about the dangerous condition. It’s the lack of warning that can cause

problems..

Look for signs of flooring change. Changes in lighting and floor color can conceal a change in

friction or angle between adjacent surfaces. Wherever possible, waxes and polishes should cover

an entire area, extending to natural breaks in flooring. Choose footwear according to floor

surface.

Consider slips and falls when you’re doing a job. Some tasks, such as pushing loads, may require

special attention to slip-resistant floor surfaces or carefully selected sole material and treads. For

some jobs, better lighting or a stable brace is helpful. Carefully placed and mounted hand rails,

poles or hip bars may help operators brace themselves. This reduces reliance on foot/floor

friction, which thereby reduces the potential for slipping.

Slips can occur because of how you walk on a surface. Some simple things you can do to

minimize your chance of slipping and falling would be to wear appropriate footwear; watch

where you’re going; take slow, short steps where slip potential is high; and use hand holds where

possible.


Slips, Trips and Falls

Date: ___________________________ Presenter: _____________________________


Toolbox Talk

Preventing Sprains and Strains

Overview

Lifting, pushing, and overreaching are common causes of strains and sprains. Any job that

requires you to sitting, standing or awkward position for long periods of time can cause excess

stress and strain on muscles. Most strains and sprains affect the back, arms, and shoulders.

However, there are some very simple things you can do to prevent or minimize body strains and

sprains.

Many strains and sprains occur because of poor material handling. Workers lift things that weigh

too much or they lift incorrectly. Lift correctly by bending your knees, not your back. Carry

loads close to your body. Injuries can occur when workers try to pull or lift a heavy or awkward

object without help or lift an object while twisting from the waist. When carrying a load, avoid

bending or lifting upward unnecessarily. Keep the load as close to the waist as possible.

Prevention

If necessary, get help with heavy loads. Don't try to move or lift an object you can't handle.

Instead of lifting a 75-pound load, break it down into smaller parts if possible. If you can't break

it down, get help from a mechanical device or lift it with another worker. Make sure moving

equipment works properly or it will cause you to strain unnecessarily just trying to get it to work.

If the wheels on a cart are not aligned, you could strain your arms, shoulders, and back trying to

move it.

Periodically change your working positions. Chronic strain due to an unchanging work position

can weaken your back, arms, and shoulders. Adjust working heights to prevent slumping or

excessive reaching. When chronic strain occurs; muscles become weak and are more prone to

injury of all kinds. Stretch during the day to increase your flexibility. Take body relaxation

breaks by letting your shoulders and neck muscles go limp; swivel your head or arms or flex

your hands and fingers.


Preventing Sprains and Strains

Date: ___________________________ Presenter: _____________________________


Toolbox Talk

Avoiding Struck by Injuries (Moving Equipment)

Overview

Many workplace injuries and deaths involve vehicles and moving equipment, but sometimes this

equipment is essential to the work operation. All vehicle and equipment operators should be

trained, competent, and safety-minded to avoid costly accidents and injuries. Before operation,

drivers should be familiar with the machine safety and operating feature, maintenance

procedures, and manufactures safety instructions.

Vehicle Operation

Vehicle operation should be limited or avoided when drivers are ill or taking medications that

can affect alertness. Operators should dress appropriately for the weather and work conditions,

including head and eye protection. If the vehicle doesn't have a protective cab, dust respirator

and acoustic earmuffs or plugs may be required. Before driving, seat belts should be securely

fastened, even if the vehicle has roll over protection (ROPs). No one should ride on any part of a

moving vehicle, except areas intended for transport. If there are no passenger seats, there should

be no riders. Operators should see to it that everyone is at a safe distance from the equipment

before moving. Only those with a driver's license should drive equipment on public roads.

Vehicle ground speed should match operating conditions. Speed should be cut in turns, when

near ditches and obstacles, on rough, hilly or muddy ground, and when visibility is poor. All

workers should be warned not be approach or get on equipment that is under power. When the

vehicle is stopped, brakes should be set securely, using park lock, and remove keys to keep

unauthorized persons from restarting the machinery. Operators should disengage the power take

off, keeping shields and guards in place, and turn off the engine before unclogging, refueling or

working on any power-driven machine.

Avoiding Danger

Other workers can avoid danger from moving equipment by staying alert, out of the way, and by

never walking under, alongside moving equipment or near power take offs.


Avoiding Struck by Injuries (Moving Equipment)

Date: ___________________________ Presenter: _____________________________


Toolbox Talk

Warehouse Safety

Overview

Warehouses work covers a wide variety of materials and products. Whether it is an industrial,

commercial or retail facility, warehouse workers should follow safety guidelines for loading

docks, conveyor systems, forklifts and pallet jacks, material storage and handling, and good

housekeeping.

Hazards

One of the largest hazards in the warehouse are the loading docks. When loading and unloading

materials, pay special attention to avoid falls from elevated docks and ramps. Trucks delivering

goods should be treated cautiously while they are parked at the loading dock. The area between

the dock and truck is hazardous because a rolling truck can cause a crush injury; truck wheels

should be chocked while unloading.

In some warehouses, products may be placed on conveyor systems that distribute them to

different areas in the facility. Avoid placing body parts or hair near conveyors because moving

wheels and belts pose a pinch point hazard. Elevated conveyors should have safety nets to avoid

dropping products on workers below. Workers need training on the location of on/off buttons

and emergency stop buttons for conveyor systems and lock out/tag out procedures are required

whenever servicing conveyors.

Forklifts and pallet jacks help move products from the shipping area into and around the

warehouse. Only trained and authorized employees are permitted to operate forklifts. Loads

should be properly lifted on forks and stabilized, then slowly and deliberately taken to their

assigned location. Forklifts and pallet jacks should never be used as rides or man lifts (unless

using an approved aerial lift basket.

When large, awkward, and/or heavy items are warehoused, they become a challenge to store in a

safe manner. Storage shelving and rack systems should be sturdy, braced, and spacious enough

to allow people and equipment to move freely. When goods are shelved, they require slow and

careful placement to avoid disturbing or pushing products off on to coworkers below. Products

should be stored flat and inside the shelving units with aisle ways kept clear.

Pallets used for stacking products should be sturdy and in good condition; damaged or unstable

pallet items should be restacked on a new one. Where possible, products on pallets should be

shrink-wrapped or banned for stability.

Workers can protect themselves on the job with personal protective equipment (PPE) such as

steel-toed shoes, gloves, and hard hats or bump caps. Proper lifting techniques protect backs.

Safe lifting also prevents loads from shifting, falling, and crushing fingers, hands and toes.

Good housekeeping in a warehouse requires keeping dirt, oil, and debris off the docks and floors.

Floors should be non-slippery and free from pits and dents. Excess garbage, boxes, baling

materials, and other recyclables should be removed and stored properly.

Training on the hazards and attention to procedures will make sure warehouse workers stay safe


Warehouse Safety

Date: ___________________________ Presenter: _____________________________


Toolbox Talk

PPE — Working Near Water

Overview of Topic

Construction work over or near water is regulated under 29 CFR 1926.106. The purpose of the

rule is to prevent drowning. The rule contains these requirements

o Provide employees working over or near water, where the danger of drowning exists,

with a U.S. Coast Guard-approved life jacket or buoyant work vests.

o Ensure that, prior to and after each use, the buoyant work vests or life preservers are

inspected for defects which would alter their strength or buoyancy.

o Ensure that defective life jackets and buoyant work vests are not used.

o Provide ring buoys with at least 90 feet of line.

o Ensure that ring buoys are readily available for emergency rescue operations.

o Do not place ring buoys more than 200 feet apart.

o Provide at least one life saving skiff "immediately available" at locations where

employees are working over or adjacent to water.

Immediately available means the skiff: is in the water or capable of being quickly

launched; is able to retrieve an employee from the water no more than three to

four minutes from the time it enters the water; has at least one designated person

present in the area to respond to water emergencies and operate the skiff when

employees are above water; and is equipped with both a motor and oars. A

communication system like a walkie- talkie must be used to inform the skiff

operator of an emergency and to inform the operator where the skiff is needed.

Injured employees must be promptly (within three to four minutes after the injury occurred)

treated by medical personnel or an employee certified in first aid.

If not only drowning hazards, but impact hazards, are involved, then fall protection, such as

safety nets, safety harnesses, or guardrail systems, must be used to prevent employees from

falling into the water. Employees working on or under bridges who are constantly protected by

guardrail systems, nets, or body harness systems are deemed to be adequately protected from the

danger of drowning and are not required to wear life jackets or buoyant work vests. Employees

performing work on or under bridges who are not constantly protected from falling into the water

are required to wear life jackets or buoyant work vests.

Employee Training

Life saving equipment, especially life jackets and buoyant work vests, is much like personal

protective equipment (PPE), and the training elements recommended are similar to those of any

PPE chapter. For the purposes of this chapter, the term life saves equipment means life jackets,

buoyant work vests, ring buoys, and life saving skiffs. An effective life saving equipment

training program should involve training employees so they know:

o When life saving equipment is necessary.

o What life saving equipment is necessary.

o The location and availability of life saving equipment.

o How to properly don, doff, adjust, and wear life jackets and buoyant work vests.

o How to properly use ring buoys and life saving skiffs.

o The limitations of the life saving equipment.

o The proper care, maintenance, useful life, and disposal of life saving equipment.


PPE — Working Near Water

Date: ___________________________ Presenter: _____________________________


Toolbox Talks

Overhead Crane

Overview

There are certain safety rules that must be followed by everyone who works with or near

overhead cranes. First let's talk about the safety precautions for workers in the operating areas of

cranes or hoist, but who are not directly involved with their operation or use. Stay alert and pay

attention to the warning signal from overhead hoisting equipment.

Never stand or walk under a load, whether it's moving or stationary.

Always warn others of moving and approaching overhead loads.

Never attempt to distract signal persons or operators of the overhead equipment while

they are performing their jobs.

Always obey warning signs, especially those that are posted in critical areas

Check to see that the equipment you are about to operate has been recently inspected.

(This may not be necessary if the operator has been assigned to the same piece of

equipment for a period of time.)

Test the warning signal or device to make sure it is working properly.

Never operate a crane that is unsafe.

Before starting work, check the brakes and all controls.

Never permit an unauthorized person to operate the crane or give the signals.

Always be sure that the operator and signal persons are in direct and clear view, or in

communication by phone.

Never carry a load over other workers.

Always use warning signals before and during moves.

Never allow anyone to ride on the load or hooks.

If a load appears to be slung improperly, lower it and have it adjusted when oiling,

adjusting or repairing the equipment, always lock the main control in the off position or

have someone guard it.

The work of riggers and hookup crews is extremely important, because much of the safe

operation of overhead cranes and hoists depends upon their knowledge and skill. All members of

the crew must know their job responsibilities and the proper procedures. Correct placement of

the sling or choker, or of the chain, contribute to safe lift travel and positioning of the load. The

placement controls the balance and how the system will handle on the hook throughout the

operation. Sometimes the crew must determine whether a tag line is needed to control the motion

and position of the load while it's in the air. Knowing how to place and manipulate the tag line

safely requires skill and alertness. Safe operation of crane and hoisting equipment requires

efficient teamwork and a thorough knowledge of the skills involved. If all of us do our jobs well

and safely, there is no reason why the injuries and deaths caused by working with or near cranes,

hoists and similar equipment cannot be virtually eliminated.


Overhead Crane

Date: ___________________________ Presenter: _____________________________


Toolbox Talk

Welding Safety

Welding hazards pose an unusual combination of safety and health risks. By its nature, welding

produces fumes and noise, gives off radiation, involves electricity or gases, and has the potential

for burns, shock, fire, and explosions.

Some hazards are common to both electric arc and oxygen-fuel gas welding. If you work with or

near a welding operation, the following general precautions should help you to work more safely.

Weld only in designated areas.

Only operate welding equipment you have been trained to use.

Know what the substance is that’s being welded and any coating on it.

Wear protective clothing to cover all exposed areas of the body for protection sparks, hot

spatter, and radiation.

Protective clothing should be dry and free of holes, grease, oil, and other substances

which may burn.

Wear flameproof gauntlet gloves, a leather or asbestos apron, and high-top shoes to

provide good protection against sparks and spatter.

Wear specifically designed, leak-proof helmets equipped with filter plates to protect

against ultraviolet, infrared, and visible radiation.

Never look at a flash, even for an instant.

Keep your head away from the plume by staying back and to the side of the work.

Use your helmet and head position to minimize fume inhalation in your breathing zone.

Make sure there is good local exhaust ventilation to keep the air in your breathing zone

clear.

Don’t weld in a confined space without adequate ventilation and a NIOSH-approved

respirator.

Don’t weld in wet areas, wear wet or damp clothing or weld with wet hands.

Don’t weld on containers which have held combustible materials or on drums, barrels or

tanks until proper safety precautions have been taken to prevent explosions.

If others are working in the area be sure they are warned and protected against arcs,

fumes, sparks, and other welding hazards.

Don’t coil the electrode cable around your body.

Ground both the frame of the welding equipment and metal being welded.

Check for leaks in gas hoses using an inert gas.

Check area around you before welding to be sure no flammable material or degreasing

solvents are in the welding area.

Keep a fire watch in the area during and after welding to be sure there are no smoldering

materials, hot slag or live sparks which could start a fire.

Locate the nearest fire extinguisher before welding.

Deposit all scraps and electrode butts in proper waste container to avoid fire and toxic

fumes.


Welding Safety

Date: ___________________________ Presenter: _____________________________


Toolbox Talk

Floor Openings

Overview of Topic

Floor openings come in many different sizes and locations. OSHA defines a floor opening as,

"An opening measuring 12 inches or more in its least dimension in any floor, roof, or platform

through which persons may fall.'' What type of hazards are associated with floor opening? The

biggest danger is a fall from an elevation. Such a fall could cause injuries as minor as a sprain or

strain to as serious as broken bones or even result in death! Another hazard is being struck by

objects failing through the floor hole.

Prevention

Several methods of protection for floor openings are acceptable. A standard guardrail with a toe

board provides a good physical barrier. If you use wood, both posts and top rail must be of at

least 2"x4" stock and the mid rail of 1"x6" stock. If you choose pipe railings, posts, top and

intermediate railings must be of at 1 ½" nominal diameter pipe. For structural steel railings,

posts, top and mid rails shall be of 2"x 2" x 3/8" angle or equivalent. In all cases posts must be

spaced not to exceed 8' on center, and toe boards shall be a minimum of 4" in vertical height and

securely fastened. All standard guard rails must be able to withstand 200 pounds of force with a

minimum of deflection in any direction.

Smaller openings may be protected with a floor hole cover, capable of supporting the maximum

intended load and must be installed so as to prevent accidental displacement. Covers and their

supports located in roadways and vehicle aisle ways for conduits, trenches and manholes must be

signed to carry the rear axle load of two times the maximum intended load.

Many deaths occur each year because floor hole covers are removed and not replaced, or they

were constructed of materials that could not support the weight of the person or load. Toe boards

prevent materials from falling through the opening and striking a worker below. For new

construction, identify floor holes as they are created; for existing structures survey the site prior

to starting work and continue to check all areas as renovation, repair and alteration proceeds.

Install guardrail or hole covers immediately, as needed.


Floor Openings

Date: ___________________________ Presenter: _____________________________


Toolbox Talk

Hard Hats

Overview

The average hard hat weighs about 14 ounces. That's less than one pound. The average man's

head weight is 14 pounds, so there's an ounce of protection for every pound of head -- provided

that the head protection is worn. The brain is the control center of the body. The slightest damage

to any part of the brain will cause malfunction of some area of the body. The skull, under normal

circumstances, protects the brain, but when there is a possibility of injury from falling or flying

objects, additional protection is needed -- that's why you have a hard hat! It provides an

additional layer of protection for your brain, which could mean the difference between life and

death or serious injury.

How it Works

As an object falls it picks up speed and force. It may be hard to believe but even an object as

small as a washer or bolt can kill you or inflict massive damage to your brain if it strikes your

unprotected head. Your hard hat is designed to deflect falling or flying objects and to absorb

some of the shock of impact. Additional shock is absorbed by the suspension system, which

distributes the force over a larger area of the head and neck.

Some workers complain about the weight of their hard hats and that they are uncomfortable to

wear, especially in warm weather. These complaints are unacceptable. The average, modern hard

hat weighs about 2 pounds less than the helmets worn in World War II, the Korean War &

Vietnam. Regarding so-called discomfort from heat -- hard hats provide the head with a cover of

shade, and air is able to circulate around the head between the suspension and the outer shell.

Hard hats are a very important part of your protective equipment.

If you're working where there is the potential for electrical shock, make sure your hard hat is a

die electric type. Metal hard hats make great electrical conductors and don't belong on the

construction site.


Hard Hats

Date: ___________________________ Presenter: _____________________________


Toolbox Talk

Powder Actuated Tools

Overview

Hilti, Ramset, and Red Head are just a few of the manufacturers of powder-actuated tools. These

tools are designed to fire a special nail or fastening device into concrete, steel and masonry using

a small caliber charge as a firing device. [See 1926.302(e)]

Use

Powder actuated tools make our work a lot easier and they increase productivity if used safely.

Quite often this question comes up -- is this a tool or a gun? Technology has made these tools a

combination of both. Each too] uses a special small explosive charge to operate the fastener and

nail drivers. Reliable manufacturers provide training programs on how to use their tools safely.

This is a must since OSHA Standards state that all operators must be trained prior to operating

any powder actuated tool. Your tool supplier has the information you need to obtain instruction

and certification.

As with any operation, safety equipment must be used. Safety glasses or goggles, hearing

protection and your hard hat will provide you with protection. All tools should be tested before

use to assure they are working properly and that all safety devices are functioning. Horseplay

with these tools will cause an accident. NEVER point a powder actuated tool at anyone! Should

it accidentally discharge, a co-worker can be injured. Special care should also be taken when

shooting into a floor, wall, ceiling, etc. to make sure there is no one on the other side. Each year

construction workers are killed or maimed from stray fasteners or metal fragments.

Should a tool jam, always follow the manufacturer's recommendations on how to clear such a

jam. Treat all powder actuated tools as if they are loaded. NEVER leave a loaded tool

unattended!

Precautions

The number one safety rule to remember is - only property trained and qualified operators should

ever use powder-actuated tools. Users should possess 'Qualified Operations Cards' which, after

thorough training, are issued by a particular manufacturer's authorized dealer or distributor or

other competent source.

Protection

Personal protective equipment must be worn by the operator, and the face should be protected if

there is any danger of spalling materials. Check with your supervisor on the type of safety

goggles required. [See 1926.102 Table E-1 I

All powder-actuated tools must be tested daily - before use - and all defects discovered before or

during use must be corrected. Tools must not be loaded until immediately before use. Loaded

tools must not be left unattended. Keep hands clear of the muzzle end. Powder-actuated tools

should never be stored or used in explosive atmospheres.


Powder Actuated Tools

Date: ___________________________ Presenter: _____________________________


Toolbox Talk

Security and Theft

Overview

In the past, company security personnel were concerned with things like the theft or computer hackers.

While these crimes are still a concern, employers have new safety risks to deal with:

Assault and kidnapping.

Chemical and biological terrorism.

Theft of hazardous materials.

Penetration of secure areas.

Misuse of classified materials.

Prevention

A good approach is to use a checklist, to ensure that everything is checked for safety and security. The list

can be customized to suit your own operation, and may include the following:

Perimeter Fencing and Gates

Vehicles and Machinery

Roof Top Access

Dumpsters and Recycle Bins

Area Lighting

Doors and Windows

Fuel Tanks and Chemicals

Tool Boxes

Open Trenches and Pits

Exposed Electrical Hazards

Open Containers

Elevated Platforms

The same effort that goes into protecting the safety and health of all employees during the work shift

should be taken to discourage possible intruders after hours. Intruders can and will create a variety of

problems, including theft, vandalism, sabotage, arson and burglary. Such activity can have direct effects

on workers, customers and the public.

All employees should be aware of safety and security issues and do their best to help secure the premises

before leaving for the night or the weekend. Kids hanging around can be tempted to enter a work area if it

is left uncontrolled, and may hurt themselves or others. Intruders of any kind may leave the workplace in

a dangerous condition. It is your jobsite that you return to each day. Stay alert and help keep it safe for

everyone.


Security and Theft

Date: ___________________________ Presenter: _____________________________


Toolbox Talk

Accident Factors

Overview

Accidents on construction projects cause too many painful injuries and claim far too many lives.

Our primary concern when we discuss the factors or causes behind an accident is to find a way to

prevent a recurrence. The cause of an accident can be found in two areas –

Unsafe Acts and Unsafe Conditions.

As a construction worker you control the first cause, Unsafe Acts. For example: a worker uses

equipment that is defective or damaged, or they may use good equipment in a careless or other

unsafe manner. Other examples of unsafe acts include disregarding posted warning signs, failure

to wear a hard hat, smoking near flammables or explosives, working too close to power lines,

handling chemicals or other hazardous materials improperly, putting your body or any part of it

onto or into shafts or openings and lifting material incorrectly. (Just a short reminder -- always

lift with your legs while keeping your back straight.)

The second accident factor or cause is Unsafe Conditions which can be found on many

construction sites. Examples include inadequate or improperly installed guard rails or a lack of

any guarding at all which most certainly will lead to an accident. Insufficient illumination, poor

ventilation, electrical grounding requirements not observed, too few fire extinguishers available,

containers that are not labeled, careless disposal of waste or excess material -- these are just a

few of many unsafe conditions that may be caused by co-workers, subcontractors, or the general

contractor.

You can make a difference by taking the time to perform your work safely and reporting any

unsafe condition you discover to your supervisor immediately.

When the cause behind the accident is found, you'll find that safety on the job plays a major part

in preventing that accident from occurring again. If everyone on the job cooperates, injury and

death statistics will be reduced and it will be much safer for you to do your job.


Accident Factors

Date: ___________________________ Presenter: _____________________________


Toolbox Talk

CPR

OVERVIEW

Cardio pulmonary resuscitation, or CPR for short, is the best form of artificial resuscitation. In

the old days we were taught to use the back pressure arm lift method when someone stopped

breathing. We did not have a method to make the heart keep pumping blood. CPR has been

around for over twenty years now, and yet we still find people who do not know how to use this

life saving procedure.

BASICS

Let's talk about when to use CPR. If there is an accident on the job where a worker is injured,

loses consciousness and stops breathing, or perhaps simply has a heart attack, the first thing that

you need to do is call for help. That means someone needs to dial 911 or another posted number

to obtain outside emergency medical help. Next you need to make sure the area around the

victim is safe, so take a quick look. If the area is ok, then you can go ahead -- but if it's not safe --

don't attempt a rescue! We don't need any dead heroes.

When you first get to the victim you must see if the injured party responds. Tap them on the

shoulder lightly and ask them, "Are you ok?" If they respond, tell them that you are there to help

them. If there is no response then you must check the ABC'S. Check their Airway, check for

Breathing, and then check for Circulation. If you find that there is no pulse present then need to

start CPR. When administering CPR a rescuer maintains a steady flow of oxygen and circulates

the blood for the victim. CPR should only be given by someone who has completed the training.

Once you start this rescue method don't stop until relieved by a medical professional.

Many people around the world are alive today because someone took the time to learn how to

give CPR. Training is available through the American Red Cross, the YMCA, various Rescue

Squads and the National Safety Council, just to name a few. Are you qualified? If not, enroll in a

course soon.


CPR

Date: ___________________________ Presenter: _____________________________


Toolbox Talk

AED

Overview

Automated external defibrillators (AEDs) are small, portable, battery-operated device capable of

detecting life-threatening conditions of the heart that can be corrected with defibrillation. AEDs are

widely available, safe, effective, portable, and easy to use. They provide the critical and necessary

treatment for sudden cardiac arrest (SCA) caused by ventricular fibrillation, the uncoordinated beating of

the heart leading to collapse and death. According to the American Heart Association, SCA leads to death

resulting from the sudden, abrupt loss of heart function in a person who may or may not have diagnosed

heart disease.

Brain death and permanent death start to occur in just four to six minutes after someone experiences a

cardiac arrest. Immediate treatment of an SCA event can result in greater than a 90 percent survival rate.

A victim’s chances of survival decrease about 10 percent with each passing minute. A quick emergency

response, including cardio-pulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and an AED, is essential for workplaces that

are more than ten minutes away from the nearest medical help.

In the workplace, an AED is only one link in a chain of survival. The links in the chain of survival are as

follows:

Early access—To emergency medical services. This includes someone trained in emergency

response to assess the scene, assess the victim’s responsiveness, and activate an emergency plan.

Early CPR—CPR is a holding action that buys time until more skilled or extensive medical

services can be accessed.

Early defibrillation—With an AED. This is the primary factor in successful resuscitation from

sudden cardiac arrest.

Early advanced cardiac care—This is the final critical link. This is where stabilizing care and

transport are provided.

How it Works

An AED is a small, portable, battery-operated device capable of detecting life-threatening conditions of

the heart that can be corrected with defibrillation. Once on the scene, the AED begins to prompt you

through the required steps.

The unit comes with a set of pads that are applied to a victim’s bare chest via the adhesive that is exposed

by peeling off a covering of paper. There are graphics on the pads to help you with correct placement.

After the pads are in place, the AED will analyze the victim to determine if a shock should be

administered. If so, the unit will deliver the shock automatically or will prompt the operator to do so by

pressing a button.

From there, the unit will analyze the victim’s heart performance again and prompt you through more

required steps, which may include continuing CPR.

The strength of the shock is automatic, so you do not have to guess how much to deliver. You don’t even

have to determine whether a shock is needed; the unit will tell you. If the unit does not detect a shockable

condition, it cannot deliver a shock, so it cannot be used in an unsafe manner.


AED

Date: ___________________________ Presenter: _____________________________


Toolbox Talk

Dress for the Job

Overview

Our clothes and footwear are our first line of defense when it comes to protecting our bodies.

Each day we wear our work clothes for eight, ten and sometimes even more hours, and there is

nothing worse than working in uncomfortable clothing and/or poor fitting footwear. Although

your work clothes are very important to your safety and health, your comfort is also a

consideration. You need to have clothes that are right for the job. They must be sturdy and

durable, and capable of standing up to heavy wear and tear. You need clothes that will keep you

warm in winter and cool in the summer, and that will keep you dry in wet and inclement weather.

We all know that it's easier to take off a layer of clothing than not have enough on in cold

weather. Wool works best in the cold while cotton is superior during the warm months. In other

words, wear clothes that you can work in comfortably and that are designed for the kind of work

you do and the weather in which you must do it.

FOOTWEAR

Proper footwear is another important part of construction attire. Wear the right shoe or boot for

the job. A good sturdy leather boot will last a long time and also provide your feet with good

support throughout the shift. Since you are on your feet most of the time, make sure the shoe or

boot fits correctly. Tennis shoes have no place on a construction site -- one reason is that

protruding nails and tennis shoe soles just don't mix.

BODY

If you wear jewelry, watches or rings remember that they can be very dangerous around

machinery and electricity. Take them off and put them in your pocket, or better yet, just leave

them at home! Many a construction worker has lost a finger or two from wearing rings on the

job. Use common sense and dress for the job you do -- leave jewelry at home, wear appropriate

clothing and sturdy footwear, and your workday will be a safer and more comfortable one.


Dress for the Job

Date: ___________________________ Presenter: _____________________________


Toolbox Talk

Permits

Overview

Permits are needed in construction because certain work conditions present hazards during

particular activities. These activities must be evaluated and determined to be safe prior to any

work taking place. There are various types of permits. A typical group that may be found in

construction include -- excavation permits, hot work permits, confined space permits, personnel

basket permits, lockout-tag out permits, electrical hot work permits, line break permits, crane

permits, heavy/critical lift permits, and there may be others required on you r worksite.

General Use

There are some general rules to abide by when using permits. First, always inspect the area you

are about to work in. Identify fire watches and fire extinguisher locations. Insist that all required

signatures are obtained prior to starting work. Look for obvious hazards. Review emergency

procedures with all crew members. Make sure all workers are wearing the required personal

protective equipment. Inspect your hand tools and check other equipment you may need to use.

Follow all visual signs and instructions. Be prepared for the unexpected. Don't take any chances.

Your life and others that work in the area will depend on each member of the crew doing the job

correctly. If your permit requires testing, be sure to have the testing done prior to entry.

Lock, tag, and try procedures are a must when preparing for a plant shutdown, equipment

shutdown, equipment isolation, or release and control of stored energy. Watch for pinch points

when you are blocking lines and closing valves. A permit is usually issued for a specific amount

of time, typically one shift. At the end of the shift the permit becomes void or invalid and must

be reissued. See your supervisor about who to contact to get a permit reissued. A permit is a

document allowing you to do something that involves a hazard of some kind. Follow it to the

letter. Permits enable us to have safer working environments. Misuse may cause an accident and

possibly a death. No one wants that!


Permits

Date: ___________________________ Presenter: _____________________________


Toolbox Talk

Abrasive Blasting

Overview

Abrasive blasting applies to all operations where an abrasive is forcibly applied to a surface by

pneumatic or hydraulic pressure, or by centrifugal force. An abrasive is a solid substance used in

an abrasive blasting operation. Sandblasting is a type of abrasive blasting. Some tasks performed

with abrasive blasting include cleaning sand and irregularities from foundry castings; cleaning

and removing paint from ship hulls, stone buildings, metal bridges, and other metal surfaces; and

finishing tombstones.

Hazards

The hazards involved in abrasive blasting include the material that is being removed and the

surface from which the material is being removed. Lead is an example of a hazardous material

being removed, while exposure to silica comes from using sand and other silica-producing

materials in the blasting process. Both of these materials involve inhalation hazards.

Silica has traditionally been used as a material in the abrasive blasting process. However, NIOSH

recommends against the use of silica sand (or other substances containing more than 1 percent

free silica) as abrasive blasting material.

Sometimes the dust that is formed from abrasive blasting can be flammable or explosive. This

can involve obvious hazards of fire and explosion. Along with these risks are those of flying

debris to the eyes, face, and any other exposed skin.

Alternatives to Abrasive Blasting

Substituting less toxic abrasive materials for the traditional high-silica-containing abrasive is

becoming more common in the United States. The United States Navy has banned silica sand or

any abrasive materials containing greater than 1 percent crystalline silica by weight for abrasive

blasting on ships. However, even with a low-silica-content abrasive (less than 1 percent free

silica), work in containment structures or in confined spaces may result in hazardous exposures.


Abrasive Blasting

Date: ___________________________ Presenter: _____________________________


Toolbox Talk

Coke Ovens

Overview

Coke oven emissions are a complex mixture of particulates, vapors, and gases that result from

the destructive distillation of bituminous coal in the production of coke. Coke is used mainly in

the production of steel.

Effects

Coke oven workers have an increased risk of developing cancer of the lung, urinary tract, and

skin. This risk is related to the area of employment and the length of employment. For example,

workers employed at the top of the oven have the greatest risk, followed by part-time topside and

side oven jobs.

Exposure to coke oven emissions increases the risk of respiratory diseases such as bronchitis and

emphysema. Smoking habits, previous exposure in a dusty industry or environment, and oven

work increase the risk of these diseases.

Effects of exposure, such as cancer, may not show up for 15 to 25 years

Protection

OSHA regulations provide that no employee may be exposed to coke oven emissions in excess

of 150 micrograms per cubic meter of air for an eight-hour period. The best way to reduce

employee exposure to coke oven emissions is through improved engineering controls and coking

methods.

Safe work practices, administrative controls, and personal protective equipment can help reduce

the exposure, but these should be considered only when engineering controls are not feasible.

Exposure Limits

NIOSH REL: Ca TWA 0.5-0.7 mg/m3 (total

OSHA PEL: TWA 0.150 mg/m3


Coke Ovens

Date: ___________________________ Presenter: _____________________________


Toolbox Talk

Disaster Recovery

Overview

Disaster recovery is the ability to respond to an interruption in services by implementing a plan

to restore an organization’s critical business functions. These disasters could be anything from

floods, tornadoes, fire, and computer hackers. To ease the recovery process, plans need to be

made well in advance. Plans for backup systems, locations, and equipment should be in place to

minimize down time.

After Disaster Steps

Gather staff off-site to assign tasks and review salvage priorities. Create a team big

enough for the work.

Establish a "Command Center" with office equipment (computers, photocopier) and

communications tools (walkie-talkies, cellular phones).

Create a secure salvage area with locks, fans, tables, shelves, plastic sheeting, drying

materials and clean water.

Notify emergency officials of the extent of damage. Contact peer or professional groups

for help.

Appoint a media liaison to report conditions and need for help/volunteers.

Verify financial resources: amount and terms of insurance, government assistance,

potential outside funding.

Contact service providers for generator, freezer, and drying or freeze-drying services.

Arrange for repairs to security system

Stabilize

Document

Assess the damage

Establish Priorities

You should have emergency telephone numbers nearby for easy access. Include telephone

numbers for the police, fire department, ambulance, poison control center, and the nearest

hospital.

You may also want to have non-emergency telephone numbers on hand for facilities such as the

local emergency management office, local American Red Cross chapter, insurance representative

or risk manager, and staff emergency office.


Disaster Recovery

Date: ___________________________ Presenter: _____________________________


Toolbox Talk

Hurricane Preparedness

Overview

Hurricanes may bring a multitude of different hazards: Heavy rainfall, flooding, high winds,

tornadoes, etc… It is important to be prepared at all times to prevent excessive health hazards.

The National Weather Service is responsible for notifying the pubic of this danger.

Pre-Planning:

Obtain information on flood zones and evacuation shelters. In some areas, these

can be found in your telephone book.

Plan an evacuation route to the nearest shelter or "safe" area and keep a map

handy. During emergencies, shelter locations may also be announced on the

radio.

Replenish emergency kits and supplies.

Secure important documents from possible damage or move them to a safe

location.

Develop a list of important phone numbers.

Develop a plan to secure loose objects around the house; trim branches and

trees if possible.

Ensure that your pets have collars and identification tags.

Prior to the Hurricane:

Secure all loose objects outdoors.

Secure all windows using plywood.

Fill your vehicle with fuel.

Charge all batteries (i.e., phone, lamps, flashlights, radios, etc.).

Listen to the emergency broadcasts of the storm.

Be prepared to evacuate and transport emergency supplies, kits and clothing to

a predetermined location.

During a Hurricane

Stay indoors and away from windows. Keep to the center of the building on the

ground level.

Listen to the emergency broadcast on the radio or television.

Turn off all electrical devices and appliances that are not needed.

Stay away from coastal waters, rivers, streams and other areas where flooding

may occur.

Do not try to cross flooded areas with your vehicle.

Listen for instructions from emergency officials when the storm is over.


Hurricane Preparedness

Date: ___________________________ Presenter: _____________________________


Toolbox Talk

OSHA Inspections

Overview

Under the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970 (the Act), the Occupational Safety and

Health Administration (OSHA) is authorized to conduct workplace inspections to determine

whether employers are complying with standards issued by the Agency for safe and healthful

workplaces. OSHA also enforces Section 5(a)(1) of the Act, known as the General Duty Clause,

which requires that every working man and woman must be provided with a safe and healthful

workplace

Inspections

Inspections, either programmed or un-programmed, fall into one of two categories depending on

the scope of the inspection:

Comprehensive: A substantially complete inspection of the potentially high hazard areas of the

establishment. An inspection may be deemed comprehensive even though, as a result of the

exercise of professional judgment, not all potentially hazardous conditions, operations and

practices within those areas are inspected.

Partial: An inspection whose focus is limited to certain potentially hazardous areas, operations,

conditions or practices at the establishment. A partial inspection may be expanded based on

information gathered by the Officer (CSHO) during the inspection process. Consistent with the

provisions of the Act, and Area Office priorities, the CSHO shall use professional judgment to

determine the necessity for expansion of the inspection scope, based on information gathered

during records or program review and walk around inspection.

Inspection Process

Opening conference

Inspection

o Observe safety and health conditions and practices,

o Consult with employees,

o Take photos and instrument readings,

o Examine records,

o Collect air samples,

o Measure noise levels,

o Survey existing engineering controls, and

o Monitor employee exposure to toxic fumes, gases and dusts.

o Recordkeeping

o Unsafe work conditions

Closing Conference


OSHA Inspections

Date: ___________________________ Presenter: _____________________________


Toolbox Talk

Guarding – Forging Machines

Overview

Forging" means the product of work on metal formed to a desired shape by impact or pressure in

hammers, forging machines (upsetters), presses, rolls, and related forming equipment. Forging

hammers, counterblow equipment and high-energy-rate forging machines impart impact to the

workpiece, while most other types of forging equipment impart squeeze pressure in shaping the

stock. Some metals can be forged at room temperature, but the majority of metals are made more

plastic for forging by heating.

Safety Measures When Forging

Thermostatic control of heating elements need to be provided to prevent over heating

Fixed or permanent lead pot installations shall to be exhausted

Portable units shall only be used in areas where good general ventilation is provided

Personal Protective Equipment shall be worn

Covered container shall be provided to store dross skimmings’

Equipment shall be kept clean

Inspection/Maintenance

It is responsibility of the employer to maintain all forge shop equipment in a condition which

will insure continued safe operation. This responsibility includes:

Establishing periodic and regular maintenance safety checks and keeping certification

records of these inspections which include the date of inspection, the signature of the

person who performed the inspection and the serial number, or other identifier, for the

forging machine which was inspected.

Scheduling and recording the inspection of guards and point of operation protection

devices at frequent and regular intervals. Recording of inspections shall be in the form of

a certification record which includes the date the inspection was performed, the signature

of the person who performed the inspection and the serial number, or other identifier, of

the equipment inspected.

Training personnel for the proper inspection and maintenance of forging machinery and

equipment.

All overhead parts shall be fastened or protected in such a manner that they will not fly

off or fall in event of failure.


Guarding – Forging Machines

Date: ___________________________ Presenter: _____________________________


Toolbox Talk

Welding Cutting and Brazing

Overview

Welding, cutting, and brazing are hazardous activities that pose a unique combination of both

safety and health risks to more than 500,000 workers in a wide variety of industries. The risk

from fatal injuries alone is more than four deaths per thousand workers over a working lifetime.

Health hazards from welding, cutting, and brazing operations include exposures to metal fumes

and to ultraviolet (UV) radiation. Safety hazards from these operations include burns, eye

damage, electrical shock, cuts, and crushed toes and fingers. Many of these can be controlled

with proper work practices and personal protective equipment (PPE)

Chemicals Associated

The following list identifies chemicals commonly associated with welding, cutting, and brazing.

The metals that may be present will depend on the material being worked on, and the makeup of

welding rods, fluxes, etc. For this information see the appropriate Material Safety Data Sheets.

Aluminum

Antimony

Arsenic

Beryllium

Cadmium

Chromium

Cobalt

Copper

Iron

Lead

Manganese

Molybdenum

Nickel

Silver

Tin

Titanium

Vanadium

Zinc

Compressed Gases

Many welding and cutting operations require the use of compressed gases. General requirements

for the handling, storage, and use of compressed gases are contained in Subpart H-Hazardous

Materials, §1910.101-1910.105. Certain welding and cutting operations require the use of

compressed gases other than those consumed in the welding process. For example, gas metal arc

welding utilizes compressed gases for shielding. Handling, storage, and use of compressed gases

in situations such as these require compliance with the requirements contained in Subpart H.


Welding, Cutting, and Brazing

Date: ___________________________ Presenter: _____________________________


Toolbox Talk

Wellness

Overview

In the face of skyrocketing healthcare costs, many businesses are taking a proactive approach

and targeting the problem at the source - by promoting wellness as a means of keeping their

employees healthy to prevent problems from occurring down the road. Promoting wellness can:

Reduce work place accidents

Lower turnover

Increase moral

Reduce employee illness

Exercise

Exercise is important in maintaining your health and well-being. While it isn’t necessary to build

muscles the way bodybuilders do, daily exercise improves muscle tone, helps circulation, and

strengthens the cardiovascular system.

Before beginning any extensive exercise program, consult a physician who can recommend how

much activity—and of what sort—is best for you. That will take into account your age, your

present physical condition, the level of your present activities and the kind of exercise you enjoy.

Remember to limit your session of exercise to a length that you are comfortable with. Be alert to

signs that you may be over doing it, pain and shortness of breath can be “slow down” messages

Physical Condition

Anyone who is not physically prepared to perform the assigned tasks is ore likely to suffer from

strains, sprains, backaches, slips, trips, and falls. People who are not in good physical condition

may be excessively overweight and may experience shortness of breath, fatigue, sore or tender

muscles or joints, and backache.

It is important to keep up with fitness so you are mentally alert, and have the proper stamina

throughout the work period.


Wellness

Date: ___________________________ Presenter: _____________________________


Toolbox Talk

Fire Extinguishers

Overview

Using portable fire extinguishers is one method that employees or fire brigade members can use to fight a

fire in the workplace. However, because there are three options given to employers regarding employee

evacuations, OSHA allows certain exemptions based on the number of employees expected to use fire

extinguishers.

Selection

If your company decides to use fire extinguishers, it is responsible for the proper selection and

distribution of those extinguishers. You must also ensure that the extinguishers provide the necessary

degree of protection for the hazards present in your workplace.

The selection and distribution of fire extinguishers must reflect the type and class of fire hazards

associated with a particular workplace.

Class A. Extinguishers for protecting Class A hazards may be selected from the following types:

water, foam, loaded stream, or multipurpose dry chemical.

Class B. Extinguishers for protecting Class B hazards may be selected from the following types:

Halon 1301, Halon 1211, carbon dioxide, dry chemicals, foam, or loaded stream.

Class C. Extinguishers for protecting Class C hazards may be selected from the following types:

Halon 1301, Halon 1211, carbon dioxide, or dry chemical.

Class D. Combustible metal fires are considered Class D hazards. These fires pose a different

type of problem in the workplace. Extinguishers using water, gas, or certain dry chemicals cannot

extinguish or control this type of fire.

Class K. Combustible cooking media (vegetable or animal oils and fats) and cooking appliances

are considered Class K hazards. Extinguishers for protecting Class K hazards include wet

chemical extinguishers.

Maintenance

Your company may choose to use outside contractors to perform the actual inspection,

maintenance, and testing of your extinguishing systems, either portable or standpipe. When

contracting for such work, you must ensure that the contractor is capable of performing the work.

If the company decides to perform the inspection, maintenance, and testing requirements in-

house, you must ensure that those persons doing the work have been appropriately trained and

will recognize problem areas that could cause an extinguisher or system to be inoperable.


Fire Extinguishers

Date: ___________________________ Presenter: _____________________________


Toolbox Talk

Drugs and Alcohol

Overview MBD has a responsibility to provide a safe and productive work environment, free from all recognized

hazards to all of its employees. MBD has a particular concern about drug and alcohol abuse since both

can have a serious effect on an employee’s productivity and job performance and which may also

jeopardize the safety of our employees. Therefore, we have prepared a substance abuse policy to promote

the safety of all employees. NOTE: In this policy, the term “substance abuse” will be used to mean: (1)

the use of illegal drugs, legal drugs (by prescription, over-the-counter, or through illegal possession), or

alcohol, in the amounts hazardous toward an individual’s health or the safety of the community; (2) the

use of such substances on one’s own initiative and without medical supervision, especially in large does

that may lead to psychological dependency, tolerance, and/or abnormal behavior; (3) the use of a drug(s)

for reasons other than therapeutic purposes.

Testing

All Job Classifications

Post-Offer Employment

Reasonable Suspicion

Post-Accident

Request of Proof

Random

Expectations

Employee is expected to arrive at work fit for duty. Arrival at work with performance altering drugs

and/or alcohol in employee’s system is prohibited.

Employee taking prescription medications that may affect work performance must report this information

to the Personnel Department prior to beginning their work day.

Employee is expected to perform their jobs in a safe manner. This use of a chemical substance that would

interfere with personal safety or the safety of others is prohibited.

All employees are expected to conduct themselves in a legal and lawful manner while on company

property or on company business. Sale, possession, providing, distributing, or use of an illegal substance

on company property or while on company business is prohibited.

Employees are expected to cooperate with the Personnel Department in the diagnosis of a substance abuse

problem, including participation in a substance abuse urinalysis. Counseling and/or rehabilitation may be

a condition of continued employment in the event of a diagnosis of a substance abuse problem.

Page


Drug and Alcohol

Date: ___________________________ Presenter: _____________________________


Toolbox Talk

Rigging Material Handling

Overview

Rigging equipment must never be loaded in excess of its recommended safe working load. Safe working

load charts are available in the construction regulations (1926.251, Tables H- 1 through H-20) for each

type of sling.

When not in use, rigging equipment should be removed from the immediate work area so as to not

prevent a hazard to employees, to protect the sling from jobsite hazards such as dirt, oil, grease, and not

being walked on or run over by construction traffic.

Custom lifting equipment (grabs, hooks, clamps, etc.) designed for specific functions such as lifting

modular panels, prefabricated structures, and similar materials, must be marked to indicate its safe

working loads. Such equipment must be proof-tested prior to use to 125 percent of its rated load.

Your competent person must visually inspect all slings, fastenings, and attachments for damage or defects

at the following frequencies. Damaged or defective equipment shall not be used and must be immediately

removed from service

Prior to use on each shift.

As necessary during operations to ensure continued integrity of the sling, especially if the sling is

subjected to heavy stresses.

General Industry Rules That Apply To Construction

OSHA has determined that the following general industry rules (1910.184) also apply to construction

applications.

Slings must not be shortened with knots or bolts or other makeshift devices.

Sling legs that have been kinked must not be used.

Slings used in a basket hitch must have the loads balanced to prevent slippage.

Slings must be padded or protected from load sharp edges.

Hands or fingers must not be placed between the sling and its load while the sling is being

tightened around the load.

Other Safety Rules

Suspended loads must be kept clear of all obstructions.

Crane operators should avoid sudden starts and stops when moving suspended loads.

Employees must remain clear of loads about to be lifted and suspended.

Tag lines should be used unless their use creates an unsafe condition.

All shock loading is prohibited.

Latches must be in place on all hooks, thus eliminating the hook throat opening.

All employees shall be kept clear of loads about to be lifted and of suspended loads


Rigging Material Handling

Date: ___________________________ Presenter: _____________________________


Toolbox Talk

Manlifts

Overview A manlift is a device consisting of a power-driven endless belt moving in one direction only, and

provided with steps or platforms and handholds attached to it for the transportation of personnel from

floor to floor.

Operating Rules

There should be no freight, packaged goods, pipe, lumber, or construction materials to be

handled on any manlift.

Inspections

All manlifts shall be inspected by a competent designated person at intervals of not more than 30

days. Limit switches shall be checked weekly. Manlifts found to be unsafe shall not be operated

until properly repaired.

Inspections should include:

Steps

Stops Fastenings

Rails

Rail supports and fastenings

Rollers and slides

Belt and belt tensions

Handholds and fastenings

Floor landings

Guardrails

Lubrication

Limit switches

Warning signs and lights

Illumination

Drive pulleys

Bottom pulley and clearance

Pulley supports

Motor

Driving mechanism

Brake

Electrical switches

Vibration and misalignment

There should be a record of all inspections that are conducted. They should include (dates,

signatures of personnel who conducted the inspection, serial number or identifier of the manlift

inspected.) These should all be kept in a safe location.


Manlifts

Date: ___________________________ Presenter: _____________________________


Toolbox Talk

Dust (General Industry)

Overview

In an industrial setting, dust can contain toxic substances such as asbestos or silica. It could come

from sources such as cotton processing or abrasive blasting. Dusts can also become an explosion

hazard. Therefore, employee safety may require that they be protected from such dusts

Not only can dust put employees at risk when they are exposed to them via breathing them into

their lungs, but dust can also accumulate and pose the risks of combustion or fire. If the

possibility exists that dusts can accumulate to a level where they can become a fire hazard, the

employer would have to take steps to control dust buildup.

Explosive Dust

Any combustible material (and some materials normally considered noncombustible) can burn

rapidly when in a finely divided form. Combustible dusts are fine particles that present an

explosion hazard when suspended in air in certain conditions. A dust explosion can be

catastrophic and cause employee deaths, injuries, and destruction of entire buildings. Such

incidents have killed scores of employees and injured hundreds over the past few decades.

Materials that may form combustible dust include metals (such as aluminum and magnesium),

wood, coal, plastics, biosolids, sugar, paper, soap, dried blood, and certain textiles. In many

accidents, employers and employees were unaware that a hazard even existed.

Health Hazards

OSHA regulates the levels of dust at 29 CFR 1910.1000, and has specific standards for asbestos,

lead, and cotton dust. These standards require exposure monitoring to ensure that toxic levels are

kept in check through ventilation or other means, and that employees are protected.

The highest level of protection comes from engineering controls. This entails designing the

process such that employees are not exposed to hazards, and includes substituting a toxic

material for a non-toxic material. This would eliminate the hazard altogether. Another method

involves administrative controls. This includes such elements as policies and job rotation. Safe

work practices can also be included in procedures to help elevate the level of safety. The last and

least effective means of protection is personal protective equipment. For the hazards involved

with dusts, this would include respiratory protection.


Dust (General Industry)

Date: ___________________________ Presenter: _____________________________


Toolbox Talk

Sanitation in the Workplace

Overview

OSHA has a standard (1910.141) for work place sanitation. It covers a multitude of things:

Vermin Control

Every enclosed workplace must be equipped and maintained to prevent entrance or harborage of

rodents, insects, and other vermin. An operative extermination program must be established

where such things are identified.

Eating and Drinking Areas

All employee food service facilities must be carried out according to hygienic principles. All

employment where all or part of food service is provided, the food dispensed must be protected

from contamination.

Water supply, both potable and non-potable

The sanitation standard for general industry defines "potable water" as water that meets the

quality standards prescribed in the U.S. Public Health Service Drinking Water Standards,

published in 42 CFR Part 72, or water which is approved for drinking purposes by the State or

local authority having jurisdiction. If the water your company uses for drinking and personal

service rooms meets the appropriate definition of potable water, then OSHA's standard is

satisfied. The sanitation standard does not require testing of the water, that the water be piped,

and it does not bar the use of bottled water

.

Toilet and washing facilities

The sanitation standard is intended to ensure that employers provide employees with sanitary and

available toilet facilities.

Sanitary Storage

Whenever a particular standard, such as HAZWOPER, requires the use of personal protective

equipment, OSHA's Sanitation Standard at 1910.141(e) requires that employers provide change

rooms based on the potential for contamination with toxic materials. OSHA also requires that

employees are provided with privacy while changing their clothes and separate storage facilities

for both street and work clothes. As such, this requirement only applies to situations where

employees must change their clothes (i.e., take off their street clothes).


Sanitation in the Workplace

Date: ___________________________ Presenter: _____________________________


Toolbox Talk

Office Safety

Overview

Office Safety is an effort to apply safety and health guidelines to the office environment in an

attempt to reduce or eliminate the hazards for all employees who, during the course of their

work, may be involved in a workplace accident or incident. This topic covers issues important to

overall office safety, health, and wellness on the job, including subjects like ergonomics, hazard

communication, fire prevention, and workplace violence.

Training

Establish a training and information program for employees routinely exposed to

hazardous chemicals in the workplace.

Ensure that a sufficient number of persons are trained to assist in the safe and orderly

evacuation of the workplace in the event of emergency. These persons must also be able

to account for or otherwise verify that all employees are in safe areas.

Emergency Action Plans

When emergencies such as fires, severe weather, bomb threats, or some other emergency event

occurs, the written Emergency Action Plans (EAP) provide employees with the knowledge

needed to protect themselves.

It is important for employees to understand what they are to do in emergency situations. This

would include knowing evacuation routes, head count locations, locations of tornado shelters,

what to do in case of fire, earthquake, or bomb threat. This information should be reviewed with

employees on a regular basis.

Ergonomics

Ergonomics is the science of arranging the working environment to fit the person doing the

work. Ergonomic concerns around the office can be: Disorders related to ergonomic stressors

Computer set up

Office/desktop layout

Repetitious or strenuous activities

Housekeeping

Proper housekeeping is essential in all workplaces. Keep walkways clear of obstructions, make sure that furniture is not blocking walkways and

corners do not present a hazard.

Dispose of broken glass and other sharp objects properly.

Never place boxes, supplies, files, or work papers on the floor or on top of filling cabinets.

Store heavy objects on lower shelves


Office Safety

Date: ___________________________ Presenter: _____________________________


Toolbox Talk

Construction – Overhead Power Lines

Overview

Electrocutions from contact with overhead power lines result in 128 work-related fatalities on

average per year. Recently, news outlets reported on the deaths of four adult Boy Scout leaders,

and injuries to three other adults, when a tent pole apparently struck an overhead power line at

the Boy Scouts’ national gathering.

The underlying cause of electrical accidents while working around overhead power lines is a

combination of three possible factors: Work involving unsafe equipment and installations

Workplaces made unsafe by the environment

Unsafe work performance (unsafe acts)

Portable Metal Ladders

Ladders are essential equipment at facilities and jobsites. However, contact between portable

metal ladders and overhead power lines causes serious and often fatal injuries to employees.

Data from the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) shows that contact

of metal ladders with overhead power lines accounted for approximately four percent of all

work-related electrocutions in the United States.

Cranes

Contact between cranes and overhead power lines are a major cause of fatal occupational injuries

in the United States. NIOSH believes that this type of event is the most common cause of

fatalities associated with mobile crane operations and is responsible for approximately 1.5

percent of all fatal work-related injuries each year.

Not only is it dangerous for the crane operators but workers on the ground can also be in danger

from the current can pass from the crane to the ground.

Trimming Trees

Tree trimming is a necessary but dangerous task. The two leading causes of death among tree

trimmers are electrocutions and falls. However, unlike fatalities related to the use of scaffolds or

cranes around overhead power lines, tree trimming accidents usually result in a single fatality.

No matter what type of work is being performed, electrocutions from unintentional contact with

overhead power lines can be prevented through awareness of the hazard and proper precautions.


Construction – Overhead Power Lines

Date: ___________________________ Presenter: _____________________________


Toolbox Talk

Grain Handling

Overview

Grain handling facilities, as defined by the OSHA Grain Handling Standard, include: grain

elevators, feed mills, flour mills, rice mills, dust pelletizing plants, dry corn mills, soybean

flaking operations, and the dry grinding operations of soy cake. There are numerous safety and

health hazards associated with grain handling operations. Suffocation and falls are the two

leading causes of deaths at grain handling facilities. Other hazards include fires, explosions,

electrocutions, and injuries from improperly guarded machinery. Exposures to grain dust and

associated airborne contaminants can also occur; such contaminants include molds, chemical

fumigants, and gases associated with decaying and/or fermenting silage

Safety Practices

- Wear a respirator capable of filtering fine dust when working in and around dusty

or moldy grains

- Maintain proper and effective shields and guards on hazardous equipment such as

moving belts, pulleys, gears, and shifts.

- NEVER enter a bin or gravity-unloaded vehicle when grain id flowing

- Closely monitor grain drying activities

- Locate the grain handling/storage facility downwind of prevailing winds during

harvest season, and at least 200 feet from houses, neighbors, and other areas

occupies by people.

- BE aware of common hazards found in and around grain handling, drying, and

storage facilities.

- DO NOT remove safety shields from drive assemblies or grates over auger

intakes.

- Forbid climbing on bucket elevators unless absolutely necessary.

OSHA Standard 1910.272 contains requirements for the control of grain dust fires and

explosions, and certain other safety hazards associated with grain handling facilities.


Grain Handling

Date: ___________________________ Presenter: _____________________________


Toolbox Talk

Fatigue

Overview

Poor job performance can be related to something that may have little to do with work: Fatigue.

According to the National Sleep Foundation (NSF), sleep deprivation is a widespread problem in

America.

When workers have not had enough sleep, fatigue takes over. According to the 2002 NSF Sleep

in America poll, over 80 percent of American adults link inadequate sleep with impaired daytime

performance and behavior. More than 60 percent associate difficulty doing daily activities such

as producing quality work, making carefully thought-out decisions, and listening carefully to

others with not getting enough sleep. Most adults also believe that inadequate sleep can lead to

making mistakes, being impatient, not getting along with others and can make a person more

prone to unsafe behavior. Employers can confront the problem by letting their workers know

about the hazards of sleep deprivation and what they can do to prevent it.

Hazards

A good night’s sleep can be seen as fuel for the brain, and sleep is an important as proper

nutrition and regular exercise. Those who have trouble getting enough sleep can also see trouble

on concentrating, accomplishing required tasks, and handling minor irritations.

Insomnia can lead to increased risk of depression; problems with memory, family/social

relationships, and mood; poorer quality of life; increased health care costs; increased

absenteeism; and increased risk for coronary disease.

Insufficient sleep can lead to excessive sleepiness, negative mood changes, reduced

performance on standardized tasks, increased accident risk, and acute negative effects on

glucose metabolism and immune function.

The National Highway Transportation Safety Administration estimates that 100,000 car crashes

each year are caused by drowsy drivers, resulting in at least 1,550 deaths and 40,000 injuries.

Sleeping Tips

Keep a regular sleep schedule — go to bed and get up at the same time each day, even on

weekends.

Create a sleep-friendly environment — make the bedroom cool, quiet, and dark.

Engage in a relaxing, non-alerting activity at bedtime — read, listen to music, or soak in a hot

tub.

Limit eating and drinking before bedtime — avoid caffeine, nicotine, and alcohol, but have a light

snack to ease hunger pains.

Exercise regularly — preferably in the afternoon, but not too close to bedtime.

Take a nap — a short 20-30 minute nap can help promote short-term alertness, but don't

substitute a daytime nap for a good night's sleep.

Get in bed only when you're tired — if you can't fall asleep within 15 minutes, go into another

room to relax until you're sleepy.


Fatigue

Date: ___________________________ Presenter: _____________________________


Toolbox Talk

Flammable Liquids

Overview

There are hundreds of thousands of chemicals use in the workplace. The number one hazard

related to these substances is flammability. OSHA has developed a very detailed set of

regulations focused on storage and use of flammable liquids. These help protect workers from

fire and explosions from these stored in the workplace.

These regulations determine the capacity that is allowed in each form of storage, construction

requirement, and what an industrial facility must do opposed to a service station or bulk plant.

Capacity

The quantity of flammable liquids that may be located outside of an inside storage room or

cabinet is detailed in OSHA STD 1-5.15

Handling

Flammable liquids give off ignitable vapors, and in workplaces there can be multiple ignition

sources. Most all liquid vapors are heavier than air and will accumulate, making it dangerous at

that point when they accumulate sufficiently. As they migrate they can come into contact with

open flames such as smoking, hand tools that spark, cutting torches, or an operating motor

Storage

The typical plant stores flammable liquids in two ways: reserve storage in buckets, drums, or

totes, and operational storage in small quantities for use at work stations. For safe storage, drums

should have one or more emergency venting devices installed in the top to prevent an internal

pressure build-up if the drum is exposed to heat. Proper vents also incorporate emergency relief

devices, which blow out under extreme pressure.

Drums should also be connected to a grounding system; this eliminates static electrical build-up

when dispensing from the drum. If your plant does not have a drum storage room, drums should

be stored in a safety cabinet; they are available in sizes to hold drums vertically or horizontally.

Disposal

Disposing of flammable or combustible liquid wastes requires as much caution in handling as do

any of the other stages. Oily, solvent-soaked rags can easily start a fire through spontaneous

combustion. To prevent this, specially designed oily waste cans should be used for temporary

storage. These cans have spring-loaded lids and a raised bottom with vent holes to dispense heat.

For removing flammable liquids from the work station for disposal, drain cans and liquid

disposal cans offer the greatest degree of safety.


Flammable Liquid

Date: ___________________________ Presenter: _____________________________


Toolbox Talk

Abrasive Wheel Grinders

Overview

Abrasive wheels and grinding machines come in many styles, sizes, and designs. Both bench-

style and pedestal (stand) grinders are commonly found in many industries. These grinders often

have either two abrasive wheels, or one abrasive wheel and one special-purpose wheel such as a

wire brush, buffing wheel, or sandstone wheel.

These types of grinders normally come with the manufacturer’s safety guard covering most of

the wheel including the spindle end, nut, and flange projection. These guards must be strong

enough to withstand the effects of a bursting wheel. In addition, a tool/work rest and transparent

shields are often provided.

Hazards

Grinding machines are powerful and are designed to operate at very high speeds. If a grinding

wheel shatters while in use, the fragments can travel at more than 300 miles per hour. In

addition, the wheels found on these machines (abrasive, polishing, wire, etc.) often rotate at

several thousand rpms. The potential for serious injury from shooting fragments and the rotating

wheel assemblies (including the flange, spindle end, and nut) is great. To ensure that grinding

wheels are safely used in your workplace, know the hazards and how to control them.

Solutions

Abrasive wheels used on bench and pedestal grinding machines must be equipped with safety

guards. The safety guard encloses most of the wheel — covering the flange, spindle end, and nut

projection — while allowing maximum exposure of the wheel periphery. The exposure of the

wheel should not exceed 90 degrees or one-fourth of the periphery.

Because the safety guard is designed to restrain the pieces of a shattered grinding wheel, the

distance between the safety guard and the top periphery of the wheel must not be more than 1⁄4-

inch. If this distance is greater because of the decreased size of the abrasive wheel, then a

“tongue guard” must be installed to protect workers from flying fragments in case of wheel

breakage. This “tongue guard” should be adjustable to maintain the maximum 1⁄4-inch distance

between it and the wheel.

An adjustable tool/work rest must also be installed and maintained at a maximum clearance of

1⁄8-inch between it and the face of the wheel. In addition to offering a stable working position,

this small clearance must be maintained to prevent the operator’s hands or the work from being

jammed between the wheel and the rest, which may cause serious injury or wheel breakage.

All abrasive wheels must be closely inspected and ring-tested before mounting to ensure that

they are free from cracks or other defects. Wheels should be tapped gently with a light,

nonmetallic instrument .A stable and undamaged wheel will give a clear metallic tone or “ring.”

If a wheel sounds cracked (dead), do not use it. This is known as the “ring test.”


Abrasive Wheel Grinders

Date: ___________________________ Presenter: _____________________________


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